In Sunday’s (5/19) News & Advance (Lynchburg, Virginia), Casey Gillis writes, “Two longtime members of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra are leaving the group. Founder Bruce Habitzruther, the only music director and conductor LSO has had in its 30 years, retired last week, while General Manager Deirdre Serio has resigned her post but will continue on until May 31, the end of LSO’s fiscal year. Board President Linda Edwards said the 2013-2014 season will be a year of transition. The symphony will perform one full orchestra event—a Halloween concert featuring a zombie walk and costume parade across the stage—along with two smaller-venue events and several fundraisers. That’s a slight change from the 2012-2013 season, which ended in April and featured two full orchestra concerts and three of the smaller ones. Habitzruther said the reduced schedule contributed to his decision to leave. … Habitzruther said he will continue with the Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra—a full symphonic orchestra of more than 80 high school and advanced middle school students. It operates separately from LSO and is ‘going really strong,’ he said. For LSO’s upcoming season, Edwards said they’ll use guest directors as needed, with the hope of eventually hiring another full-time conductor.”
Posted May 21, 2013
