“Five finalists were announced Monday to succeed Fouad Fakhouri as conductor and music director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra,” writes Michael Futch in Tuesday’s (5/3) Fayetteville Observer (N.C.). “Fakhouri’s successor … will be chosen from the following candidates: Al Sturgis, Stefan Sanders, Aram Demirjian, Joseph Young and Dina Gilbert…. Plans call for the new orchestra leader to be named by April 29, 2017, according Chris Kastner, president and chief executive officer of the organization…. Each candidate will come in for a full week to oversee rehearsals that lead into one of the scheduled concerts … The prospective conductor will get to know the musicians and, during a meet-and-greet-type setting, field questions from members of the community…. The final concert of the 2016-2017 season will be held in late March, she said, and the new conductor will be selected about a month later…. From 273 applicants for the position … a nine-member search committee, comprised of three board members, three community supporters and three orchestra musicians, initially selected a list of 40 candidates, Kastner said. The pool was then pared to 10. Skype interviews were conducted, and these semifinalists submitted sample concert programs…. ‘We’re looking to see who really connects with Fayetteville,’ Kastner said.” Stefan Sanders is one of five conductors selected to participate in the League’s Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, taking place in Nashville on May 11. Click here for more information and to register.
Posted May 3, 2016
