Gustavus Adolphus College

Adjunct Instructor
Music

Warren Friesen joined the faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College in the Fall of 2000. In addition to serving as Director of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra, he is also String Area Coordinator and teaches studio viola, music theory, music appreciation, string techniques and coaches chamber music. Mr. Friesen earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas) where he majored in music and German. He earned the Master of Music Degree in viola performance from Rice University and is currently finishing the Doctor of Arts Degree in orchestral conducting at Ball State University.

Throughout his career, Mr. Friesen has held many positions with both professional orchestras and educational institutions. Before pursuing doctoral studies, he was Director of Orchestras at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, a magnet school in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also held conducting positions with the Duluth-Superior Youth Symphony, the Houston Youth Symphony and the Sioux City Youth Orchestra. He has also held Assistant Conductor positions with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the New York Harlem Opera Ensemble. He is Founder and Artistic Director of the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, a Duluth-based professional summer orchestra. Under Maestro Friesen's direction, this ensemble has twice received national awards from the American Symphony Orchestra League for "Adventureso0me Programming of Contemporary Music." An avid chamber musician, Mr. Friesen continues to perform on both violin and viola. He continues as Co-Director of the Quartet Project, an intensive summer workshop for advanced high school string players which he founded in 1996.

Warren Friesen's Schedule

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