“The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, a professional ensemble of 88 musicians, has announced Alondra de la Parra as its first music director, starting in 2017, the orchestra’s 70th-anniversary season,” writes Susan Elliott on Friday (10/23) at MusicalAmerica.com (subscription required). “She succeeds chief conductor Johannes Fritzsch, who stepped down in 2014 after six years in the job. This marks the first directorship for De La Parra, 35 who was born in New York City but grew up in Mexico. She has signed a three-year contract. ‘The appointment of Alondra de la Parra is a major turning point for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra,’ said AUQSO Chief Executive Officer Sophie Galaise, noting that the orchestra was the country’s third largest…. De la Parra led the group for the first time in May to great success…. ‘I’m looking forward to building on the positive connections that flourished during that time,’ she said. De la Parra has guest conducted widely but is perhaps best known in this country as the founding artistic director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, launched in 2004. She holds a BM in piano performance and a Masters degree in conducting from the Manhattan School of Music.”
Posted October 26, 2015
