Author: Jennifer Melick

“Following the lead of many orchestras across the globe, the San Diego Symphony announced today that it is pulling Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812’ Overture, … because of the war in Ukraine,” writes Michael James Rocha in Thursday’s (7/7) San Diego Union-Tribune. “The ‘1812’ Overture has been a part of the orchestra’s summer repertoire, without fail, since 1998. ‘Due to current world events, the San Diego Symphony has made the decision to change its 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular concert repertoire. Now titled Tchaikovsky’s Symphonic Tales, the program will no longer include Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture,’ the symphony said in a statement, referring to the ensemble’s Aug. 26 concert at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. ‘While this program has been a regular of San Diego Symphony summer seasons past, with the ongoing Russian war that threatens the people of Ukraine, who—as we speak—are fighting for their very lives, we feel that it is important to amend this program…. The San Diego Symphony highly respects the work of Russian composers and intends to carry that legacy on…. But, we strongly feel that this summer is not the time in which we should perform the 1812 Overture.’ A newly announced program still features Tchaikovsky works.”

“This fall, Jessica Satava will take over as the executive director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, a natural culmination for someone whose life has been driven by and for music,” writes Evan Peter Smith in Wednesday’s (7/6) Greenville Journal (SC). “The appointment of Satava to the position, effective September 1, was the result of an extensive nationwide search on behalf of the symphony’s board of directors and comes as the symphony is celebrating its 75th year in Greenville…. Satava most recently served as the executive director of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and previously served at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and the Aspen Music Festival and School…. Her goal in the new position when she begins in the Fall is to continue building partnerships and collaboration with local businesses, arts organizations and other community-oriented groups, especially those geared toward the younger generation. ‘When we’re teaching kids about music and giving them meaningful experiences to engage with music, we’re making them better citizens for our community,’ Satava said. ‘Providing strong music education for Greenville’s youth is one of the best things we can do to support the community at large.’ ”

“The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has canceled 10 concerts … next season at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall,” writes Mary Carole McCauley in Thursday’s (7/7) Baltimore Sun. “The schedule change will … reduce the total number of BSO concerts next season from 123 to 113. By the end of last season, attendance at BSO performances was averaging about 40% of capacity in both [Meyerhoff and the Music Center at Strathmore] venues…. ‘Overall, the trajectory has been growth. But I don’t like the sight of a single empty seat,’ [said BSO President Mark C. Hanson]. The revised schedule will include a new … regional BSO series of three concerts in an as-yet unnamed neighboring municipality…. Hanson thinks attendance at BSO concerts might have been low because the symphony scheduled too many performances of the same program….  Brian Prechtl, a percussionist with the orchestra and chair of the Baltimore Symphony Musicians Players’ Committee, said … the decision … ‘will help to keep overuse injury in check while increasing the number of patrons at each performance.’ … The [new] regional series was inspired in part by the success of the three free public Symphony in the City concerts … earlier this year…. The BSO recently launched its new Music in Maryland tour [throughout the state].”

The Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in South Carolina has announced a new flexible program model for its youth ensembles. The SPYO launched in 2019 as an orchestra for 9th- to 12th-graders and added a junior ensemble for 6th- to 8th-grade string students in 2020. Beginning July 1, the two ensembles of SPYO will be known as Prelude (formerly SPYO Junior Ensemble), a string ensemble led by conductor Johanna Wilson, and Symphony (SPYO Senior Ensemble), a full orchestra led by conductor Susie Lalama. Prelude participants typically will range from 6th to 9th grade. Symphony will expand to include participants ranging from 8th to 12th grade, providing opportunities for 8th-grade “winds, brass, percussion, and string musicians to perform with a full orchestra,” said Lalama. Under the new model, prospective students may audition for either Prelude or Symphony; 8th- and 9th-grade string students have the option to audition for both programs. “This overlap in programs encourages continued musical growth,” says Lalama. “We hope it will further inspire students to work hard on their skills and be even more prepared to join their peers at the next level.”

“Martin C. Dreiwitz, who drew on his twin passions for travel and classical music to found the globe-trotting Long Island Youth Orchestra, conducting his student musicians before audiences as close as Great Neck … and as far away as Karachi and Kathmandu, … died on June 20 at a hospital near his home in Oyster Bay, N.Y. He was 91,” writes Clay Risen in last Thursday’s (6/30) New York Times. “Steven Behr, the president of the orchestra’s board of directors, said the cause was a heart attack. The orchestra may have counted some 100 performers, but Mr. Dreiwitz … raised the funds, scouted for new members, cajoled parents … and conducted every performance from its founding in 1962 to his retirement in 2012…. In addition to playing four concerts a year, mostly … in Brookville, N.Y., the orchestra went on a summer tour, almost always abroad…. Though he trained as a classical clarinetist, Mr. Dreiwitz was, in fact, a travel agent by trade … He treated his musicians like adults, and saw his mission as less about pedagogy than about preparation for a professional music career…. The orchestra’s 4,000 (and counting) alumni have gone on to play in many of the country’s major [orchestras]…. He is survived by his two sons, Tuan Dinh and Dung Dinh.”

“The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has announced violinist Gabriela Lara as the first winner of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Fellowship,” states an unsigned article in Monday’s (7/4) Strad (U.K.). “She will assume her post when the CSO’s 2022-23 season starts…. The new fellowship program seeks musicians from traditionally under-represented groups in American symphony orchestras…. Lara will rehearse and perform with the CSO, work with conductors and receive training and mentorship from CSO musicians for up to three years. Lara will be paid to perform in at least 20 subscription weeks with the CSO, along with receiving financial support to attend auditions … [and] private lessons with a CSO musician. The program aims to prepare fellows to win auditions for US orchestra posts. Lara is a 2022 graduate with a bachelor of music degree in violin performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts…. Lara received a 2022 Project Inclusion Fellowship from the Grant Park Orchestra. Lara began her violin studies in her native Venezuela…. She served as a concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela…. Lara was a second-place winner in the 2021 Sphinx Solo Competition and won the 2021 Frank Preuss International Violin Competition.”

“The Jacksonville Symphony has just concluded our glorious 2021-22 season, and we could not be happier,” writes Steven Libman, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony in last Sunday’s (6/26) Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville). “This was our first full season in two years that did not have physical distancing, and we did not have to cancel a single concert…. We entered the 2020-21 season under strict safety and physical distancing guidelines. This allowed us to offer 72 concerts to 37,802 patrons. However, for our 2021-22 season, we were able to offer 75 concerts…. We continue to believe that the Jacksonville Symphony offers our beloved community the joy of symphonic music…. The season that just concluded was, in so many ways, ‘a season of firsts.’ We launched the David M. Hicks Mozart Piano Concerto Series … [and] our first Concert Organ Series … and we held our first-ever Pride Night…. We also received our first-ever grant from the League of American Orchestras’ Catalyst Fund, in partnership with the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Foundation … to help us advance our innovative work with new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives…. Our mission is to enrich the human spirit through symphonic music.”

“The Billings Symphony will acquire the Billings Youth Orchestra (BYO) effective July 1, 2022, renaming the nonprofit the Billings Symphony Youth Orchestra,” states an unsigned article in last Thursday’s (6/30) Billings Gazette (MT). “The governing boards of both groups voted unanimously in May to combine the two organizations, a move that will ensure orchestral opportunities for generations of young Montana-area musicians from kindergarten to college age. ‘We have been fortunate in Billings to have the Billings Youth Orchestra impacting the lives of young musicians since 2006,’ said Anne Harrigan, music director for the Billings Symphony. ‘Youth orchestras play an important role in the development of young lives. I am thrilled that the Billings Youth Orchestra will become a part of the Billings Symphony….’ Since its founding by the Kirk family with support from parents and educators, BYO has provided young musicians an opportunity for growth through training and performance at the highest level across four different orchestras: Preludio, Concert, Young Artist, and Repertory…. All operations will remain intact and performance opportunities will expand under the Billings Symphony. The organization’s four professional conductors, all of whom are Billings Symphony musicians, will continue to lead the orchestras and ensembles.”