"Taking the lead: Orchestral Conducting student raises baton at CCM and beyond"
William R. Langley’s electric conducting has garnered attention from the Queen City to Austria
William R. Langley’s electric conducting has garnered attention from the Queen City to Austria
DOUBLE PORTRAIT, featuring works by Douglas Knehans and Edward Smaldone, was recently released in June of 2020. Recorded in the spring of 2018 with All of the Above, Langley conducting.
"The guest conductor is William R. Langley, 26, a lifelong Memphian and founder and music director of the Memphis Repertory Orchestra, an ensemble that gives student musicians a chance to play alongside professionals. (The repertory orchestra has a performance the night before the Elvis concert, at 8 p.m. Friday at the Buckman Performing Arts Center.)
Langley's nickname, dating back to childhood, is "Buddy," which seems unlikely for a man who knows his Dvorak and Debussy but would be appropriate for a member of Elvis' Memphis Mafia. That being the case, Langley insists the gap between classical and rock music isn't as wide as it seems."
WRL has been featured in various publications including the 2012 article entitled "Young Conductor realizing new dreams : New Repertory Orchestra proving successful" in The Commercial Appeal's May 21st Sunday paper. Article by Jonathan Devin.
WRL was also featured in the Memphis Flyer's cover story for their January 2012 issue highlighting 20 "up and coming" citizens that are shaping the future in various ways for the city of Memphis. Langley was no. 1 out of the 20 selected for this article. Click HERE to read Richard Alley's write up featuring WRL and 19 other proactive young adults in Memphis.