“You can study conducting in university courses and take master classes … but no one teaches you how to be a music director,” writes Stephanie Hammett in Thursday’s (4/28) Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA). “In fact, Spokane Symphony music director James Lowe explained, most of the time you just have to learn on the job. This season, Lowe and the symphony are launching a series of Music Director Fellowships aimed at giving aspiring conductors a rare insight into the glamorous yet mysterious life of a music director…. Visiting all the way from Manchester, ‘England’s second city,’ Alexander Robinson, 26, will be Lowe’s first … music directing fellow. [After two weeks] shadowing Lowe through his day-to-day duties, Robinson will … conduct … a master class performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7…. Robinson is the associate conductor of the [U.K.’s] Nottingham Youth Orchestra…. Over the last week and a half, Robinson has followed Lowe to more than 40 events: working breakfasts and committee meetings, preconcert ‘LoweDown’ talks and school visits, not to mention long evening rehearsals on top of the rest. ‘I was tired after three days, but now? I’m exhausted,’ Robinson said. ‘I think [Lowe’s] determination is quite inspirational.’ ”
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