In Wednesday’s (11/14) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin reports, “Encore Series Inc., presenter of the Philly Pops, has hired a successor to its founding music director, Peter Nero. Michael Krajewski, 62, who leads pops orchestras in Atlanta, Houston, and Jacksonville, Fla., will take over in the fall of 2013. Public acknowledgment of the decision was made Tuesday at City Hall by Mayor Nutter, who called Krajewski ‘one of the world’s foremost conductors.’ Nutter took the opportunity to tip his hat to Nero—who did not attend the announcement—‘for for his contribution to the arts.’ The Grammy-winning jazz pianist and pops conductor, musical leader since the group’s founding in 1979, is in his last year on the podium. His exit was negotiated as part of the Pops’ Chapter 11 petition filed in April 2011. The Pops had offered the job to the pianist, conductor, and composer Marvin Hamlisch, and he accepted, said Pops president/CEO Frank Giordano. But Hamlisch died in August, so the search resumed. Krajewski has never conducted the Philly Pops. … The Orlando-based Krajewski said he decided to accept the post because of the group’s national reputation. … His first concerts with the Philly Pops are slated for March and April.”
Posted November 14, 2012
