In 2004, Clay Couturiaux assumed position as Music Director and Conductor of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra in Louisiana. In service to the orchestra, Couturiaux works successfully to increase the annual budget, inspire the musicians to perform with outstanding artistic integrity, and offers the most interesting pops, standard, and contemporary programming to the patrons. Representing the MSO internationally, Maestro Couturiaux guest conducted the Milano Classica Orchestra da Camera, Italy during the 2007-2008 season. In turn, he hires internationally recognized soloists but also up and coming young artists as well as beloved local artists to appear in concert.
Other professional conducting engagements include performances with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony, Austin Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and Texas Chamber Orchestra. In 2002, Couturiaux stepped-in on last minute notification and without any rehearsal to conduct performances of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker with Ballet Arlington (now Metropolitan Classical Ballet) and conducted "an exciting performance that caught fire" as reported in the Dallas Morning News.
As Assistant Director of Orchestras at the University of North Texas since 2000, Dr. Couturiaux teaches fundamentals of conducting technique and orchestral conducting, administrates the orchestral studies area, and conducts the internationally recognized UNT Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. Couturiaux works to encourage relationships with sister universities and recruit students. He performed most recently in Taipei with the National Taiwan Normal University Symphony Orchestra. Recording projects include an upcoming CD release with John Holt, principal trumpet of the Dallas Opera Orchestra, and the UNT Chamber Orchestra on Crystal Records.
Couturiaux believes teaching our youth to love and participate in the arts is imperative. He enjoys every opportunity to guest conduct high school regional and youth orchestras. Sponsored by Verizon's "Arts for Literacy" program, Couturiaux has conducted performances of the musicals: The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. He has taught private cello lessons in the Plano and Lewisville school systems.
Couturiaux earned the doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from the University of North Texas as a student of Maestro Anshel Brusilow. He further developed his skills through lessons with Hugh Wolff, Neal Gittleman, and Michael Jinbo at the world-renowned Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestra Musicians, with Harold Farberman and Guillermo Figueroa at Conductors Guild workshops in Puerto Rico, through master classes with Carl Topilow at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and with Pinchas Zukerman and Jorma Panula at the National Arts Centre Conductors Programme in Ottawa, Canada. He earned the bachelor of music degree, magna cum laude, in violoncello performance from UNT as a student of Carter Enyeart. Other teachers include Kate Tamarkin in conducting, as well as Tanya Remenikova, Walter Gray, and Eugene Osadchy in violoncello.
