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In the fall of 2006 , Daniel Alfred Wachs assumed the position of Music Director & Director of Orchestral Activities at Chapman University in Orange , California .. Chapman University. Chapman University. Concurrently , he serves as Music Director of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra which has just entered its 40th season .. Born in 1976 , Wachs was raised and educated in the United States , Israel and Europe .. At the age of eight , he was auditioned by Zubin Mehta and began studies with Enrique Barenboim .. Zubin Mehta. Zubin Mehta. He subsequently pursued studies at the Zurich Academy of Music and the North Carolina School of the Arts .. North Carolina School of the Arts. North Carolina School of the Arts. Wachs holds a bachelor 's degree in piano from the Curtis Institute of Music and graduate degrees in piano & conducting from The Juilliard School .. Curtis Institute of Music. Curtis Institute of Music. The Juilliard School. The Juilliard School. Mr. Wachs recently completed his tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre National de France in Paris under Kurt Masur .. Orchestre National de France. Orchestre National de France. Kurt Masur. Kurt Masur. His recent engagements include the French premiere of Bernstein 's Candide at the Theatre du Chatelet -LRB- a co-production with La Scala & ENO -RRB- , Verdi 's Un Ballo in maschera with Opera Santa Barbara and Britten 's Albert Herring with Opera Chapman .. Bernstein. Leonard Bernstein. Candide. Candide ( operetta ). Opera Santa Barbara. Opera Santa Barbara. He served as a juror for the 2007 ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Award in New York and as Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Opera during its 2007 Season .. Cincinnati Opera. Cincinnati Opera. During his tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra , Wachs conducted a semi-staged performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Minnesota Opera Chorus and James Sewell Ballet Company .. Minnesota Orchestra. Minnesota Orchestra. During the 2004-05 Season , Wachs held the position of Artist in Residence at New York City Ballet , leading performances during the company 's Balanchine Centennial as well as during the 50th Anniversary of The Nutcracker .. New York City Ballet. New York City Ballet. He has guest conducted such orchestras as the Auckland Philharmonia of New Zealand , Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra , and the Florida West Coast Symphony.As a pianist , he has performed in such venues as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall , Alice Tully Hall , Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow , the Salle Paderewski in Lausanne , and at such festivals as Aspen , Tanglewood and Verbier .. Auckland Philharmonia of New Zealand. Auckland Philharmonia of New Zealand. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Florida West Coast Symphony. Florida West Coast Symphony. Tanglewood. Tanglewood