Delegates at the American Orchestras’ 80th National Conference in Salt Lake City outside Maurice Abravanel Hall, home of the Utah Symphony. The Conference drew constituents from all 50 states, Canada, and seven countries. Photo by Douglas Carter Photography.
In Tuesday’s (6/17) Classical Voice North America, James Bash writes, “Marin Alsop, music director laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival, and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, was named recipient of the Gold Baton Award at the League of American Orchestras’ 80th National Conference held [in Salt Lake City] June 11-13…. Entitled ‘Ascend,’ the conference drew constituents from the League’s 630 [member] orchestras, which include all 50 states, Canada, and seven countries … Along with administrative staffs, attendees included composers, conductors, consultants, and musicians. A cornucopia of exhibitors, representing diverse facets of the orchestral industry from acoustic engineering to travel companies, lined the hallways … At a panel discussion on the benefits of music led by soprano Renée Fleming, Assal Habibi, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, described how music stimulates the brain and activates good social bonding…. The session on ‘Building a Compelling Case’ featured a huge success story from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra about how they … raised $50 million. Another inspiration was Connecticut Orchestra Month, in which 29 orchestras throughout the state quickly put together a campaign to celebrate orchestral music. A third innovative story highlighted the Louisville Symphony Orchestra, which built connections with small towns and venues throughout Kentucky and worked with the state government to receive $4.3 million to perform concerts throughout the state…. Daniel Crupi, executive director of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, thanked the League for helping it to recover from disastrous flooding the previous year. The League’s CEO and president, Simon Woods, and its board chair, Alan Mason, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Above: watch conductor Marin Alsop’s remarks from the Opening Session of the League of American Orchestras’ 2025 National Conference, where she received the Gold Baton Award. Read the PDF transcript of her talk on the League’s website.
