National and International News

by Burton A. Zipser

National

Marin Alsop and the Baltimore S.O. converted their concert hall into a three-ring circus during a four-week circus festival held last March. A pops concert and three classical programs were included in the festival.

David Commanday is completing his first year as the Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony.

James Feddick, a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory, is currently an Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. He also leads the C.O. Youth Orchestra.

Ryan Haskins is completing his first year as Music Director and Conductor of the Sioux City (IA) S.O.

Completing his first year as Music Director of the Augusta (GA) Symphony is Shizuo Z. Kuwahara.

Kevin McMahon, Music Director of the Wheaton (Glen Ellyn, IL) Symphony, has been named Music Director of the Sheboygan (WI) S.O.

Luis Milan, a faculty member at the University of Montana (where he conducts the university orchestra and the Montana Lyric Opera) is in his second year as Conductor of the Butte S.O.

John Wesley Schumacher retired as Music Director/Conductor of the Venice (FL) Symphony following a 20-year tenure.

Gerald Steichen has been appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the Utah Symphony.

Scott Terrell began his tenure with the Lexington (KY) Philharmonic Orchestra at the start of the current season, succeeding George Zack who retired after 37 years in the position.

More than 220 orchestras across the U.S. have been participating in an initiative to help the underprivileged through a national food drive entitled  “Orchestras Feeding America “.

The Bowling Green (KY) Chamber Orchestra has changed its name to the Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green to reflect its ensemble size and regional identity.

International

Anna-Maria Helsing will be come the first female conductor to head a Finnish orchestra when she assumes that position with the Oulo S.O. at the start of the 2010-11 season.

Finnish conductor Okko Kamu will become the Chief Conductor of the Lahti (Finland) S.O. at the start of the 2011-12 season, and will take over the reins of the orchestra’s annual Sibelius Festival.

Richard Lee is in the first year of a contract as Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg S.O.

Lorin Maazel will continue to serve as Music Director of the Palau de les Arts Opera in Valencia, Spain, until the end of the 2010-11 season.

Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre has suffered a series of setbacks during the renovation which began in 2005. Delays in restoration have moved the completion date to 2013.

Yan Pascal Tortelier is the Principal Conductor of the Sao Paulo (Brazil) S.O.

CLOSING CHORD

Schuyler Chapin, a lifelong arts advocate and administrator, died on March 7, 2009 in New York City. In addition to positions with Columbia Artists and Columbia Records, he was the first Vice President for Programming at Lincoln Center, also serving as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera, as Dean of Columbia University’s School of the Arts, and finally as Cultural Commissioner for the City of New York. From 1982-85 he was the Chairman of the Board of the American Symphony Orchestra League.