Stuart Malina
Music Director
Since becoming GSO Music Director in 2022, Stuart Malina has brought his talents as pianist, composer, orchestrator, and conductor to enliven our performances. Maestro Malina also continues his long-term role as Music Director and Conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, which has experienced remarkable growth and acclaim under his direction. He was previously Music Director of the Greensboro (North Carolina) Symphony (1996–2003), and Associate Director of the Charleston Symphony (1993–1997). From 2011 to 2023, Maestro Malina served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Florida Orchestra in the Tampa Bay area. He is also the Music Director of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta (The Orchestra of the Adirondacks), leading an annual six-week summer festival.
In 2003, Maestro Malina won a Tony award for orchestration with Billy Joel for the musical Movin’ Out, which he helped create with director/choreographer Twyla Tharp. Maestro holds degrees from Harvard University, the Yale School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. His extensive musical interests have taken him to performing stages around the world. Originally from Scarsdale, NY, Maestro Malina is pleased to be performing close to his old hometown.
Ari Rudiakov
Assistant Conductor
Conductor and violist Ariel Rudiakov is cofounder and Artistic Director of Taconic Music in Manchester, Vermont, and serves on the faculty of Bennington College. A former Artistic Director of the Manchester Music Festival (2000–2016), he has performed widely in the U.S. and abroad, with appearances at the Kawai a Ledro Festival (Italy), Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival (Vermont), and as guest violist with ensembles including the Hyperion String Quartet. He was a member of the New York Piano Quartet, Equinox String Quartet, and founding president of SONYC (String Orchestra of New York City). His recordings include the complete string quartets of Saint-Saëns and the piano quintet of Vittorio Giannini (MSR Classics), praised by Fanfare as “utterly superb.”
At the podium, Mr. Rudiakov is Music Director of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra and Yonkers Philharmonic, in addition to his role as Assistant Conductor of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra. He studied at Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Purchase, University of Illinois, and performs on a 2000 Geoffrey Ovington viola.
