“Robert Franz said he will step down as music director of the Boise Philharmonic at the end of the 2015-16 season,” writes Dana Oland in Tuesday’s (1/19) Idaho Statesman (Boise). “Franz, 47, has elevated and nurtured Boise’s classical music scene since he arrived in 2008…. During his tenure, Franz expanded the orchestra’s repertoire of masterworks. He brought the Boise Master Chorale under the philharmonic’s umbrella and worked with Boise State University to develop a graduate string quartet program. He supported and performed the work of Idaho composers, including Jim Cockey and David Biedenbender. He collaborated with many of Boise’s arts groups, including Ballet Idaho, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Boise Art Museum. He created a connection with area college and school district music programs, community orchestras and other groups…. Franz led the orchestra’s artistic side during rocky financial times. The orchestra fell into about $500,000 debt in 2013. Franz and the board … reorganized and streamlined the organization, and made headway…. Franz also will continue as music director for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, as an associate conductor at Houston Symphony, and pursue guest conductor gigs…. [Board Chairwoman Julie] Kilgrow said the board will launch a national search for Franz’s replacement.”
Posted January 20, 2016
