Artist Biographies

This concert marks Mo. Krajewski’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.

Known for his entertaining programs and engaging personality, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after pops conductor in the U.S.A., Canada and abroad. His twenty-year relationship with the Houston Symphony included seventeen years as Principal Pops Conductor. He also served as Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach Symphony for eleven years, Principal Pops Conductor of Atlanta Symphony for eight years, Music Director of the Philly Pops for six years, and Principal Pops Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony for twenty-five years.

Michael’s busy schedule as a guest conductor includes concerts with major and regional orchestras across the United States. In Canada he has appeared with the orchestras of Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina and KitchenerWaterloo. Overseas he has performed in Ireland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Malaysia and China.

Michael has conducted concerts featuring noteable musicians and entertainers from many diverse styles of music. He has worked with classical luminaries such as vocalist Marilyn Horne, flutist James Galway, pianist Alicia de Larrocha and guitarists Pepe and Angel Romero. In the field of popular music he has performed with Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainright, Jason Alexander, Patti Austin, Sandi Patty, Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Doc Severinsen, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Chieftains, Chicago, Pink Martini, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Born in Detroit, Michael studied music education at Wayne State University and conducting at the Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of music. He was an Antal Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and subsequently served as the DSO’s assistant conductor for four years. Michael now lives in Florida with his wife Darcy. In his spare time he enjoys travel, photography and solving crossword puzzles.

This concert marks Ms. Reiber’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.

Julie Reiber’s versatility allows her to play a wide range of roles and sing in many styles. Classically trained with a BFA in Vocal Performance and a minor in Acting from Western Washington University, Ms. Reiber has the ability to belt out such roles as Maureen in the National Tour of RENT, perform more legit roles such as Rose Stopnick in Tony Kushner’s Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN and sooth audiences with her sultry jazz voice as Betty Haynes in the classic White Christmas at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. Other favorite regional performances include the quirky, outlandish Connie Bradshaw in the World Premiere performance of Tales of the City at A.C.T. in San Francisco singing the music of the Scissor Sisters as well as Cathy in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, “Turn Back O Man” in Godspell at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Amneris in AIDA (Henry Award Best Supporting Actress) at The Arvada Center.

Ms. Reiber has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the world including the Korean Symphony in the Olympic Hall in Seoul, Korea. She also wowed audiences with her stunning rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at Dodgers Stadium.

As a singer/songwriter Ms. Reiber has conceived and performed numerous solo shows in New York, but most recently her greatest solo achievement to date is releasing her Debut Solo Album Love Travels released in April of 2012. Recorded at the legendary Avatar Studios, the album is a fusion of Broadway, pop, folk and R&B/soul.

This concert marks Mr. LaBrecque’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.

Doug LaBrecque thrilled theater audiences as both the Phantom and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. He starred in the original cast of the Harold Prince Broadway revival of Showboat, and toured nationally with Les Misérables. He was also featured in Oscar Hammerstein’s 100th birthday celebration at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre. Regionally, Mr. LaBrecque has played leading roles in Candide, A Chorus Line, Man of La Mancha, and many others.

A popular and prolific concert performer, Mr. LaBrecque has been a soloist with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the National Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and more than 125 others worldwide.

He debuted at Carnegie Hall with the NY Pops and Marvin Hamlisch in a tribute to Richard Rodgers and has hosted and sung in numerous holiday performances with the symphonies of Seattle, St. Louis, Oregon and the Rochester Philharmonic. Special appearances include performances with Jerry Herman, Carole Bayer-Sager, and Ted Kennedy and Senator Orrin Hatch (singing together!) at Hickory Hill, the home of Ethel Kennedy.

International engagements include the Korean National Symphony, Shanghai Radio Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, and with the Beijing Symphony alongside pianist Lang Lang. Doug graduated from The University of Michigan.