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FSO Music Director Candidates Announced

By February 2, 2016 No Comments

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra has announced four finalists in the search for its next Music Director.

The finalists, selected from more than 120 applications, are Darko Butorac of Missoula, Montana; Charles Latshaw of Kent, Ohio; Daniel O’Bryant of Flagstaff; and Lidiya Yankovskaya of New York City. Each finalist will spend a week in Flagstaff to rehearse and conduct a concert with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra (FSO) in the 2016-2017 season.

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ABOUT THE FINALISTS

Darko ButoracButorac thumbnail is the Music Director of both the Tallahassee and Missoula Symphony Orchestras. He served as the Director of Orchestras at Northern Arizona University from 2004-2008, and has performed extensively at the Aspen Music Festival and Brevard Music Center. Butorac is the Grand Prix laureate of the Fourth International Vakhtang Jordania Conducting Competition.

 

Latshaw, Charles

Charles Latshaw is the director of the Kent/Blossom Music Festival and the Kent State University Orchestra. He previously served as artistic director and conductor of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in Indiana. Latshaw has also held conducting positions with the Indianapolis Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Washington Sinfonietta, and Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra. In 2007 he was selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic as the Herbert von Karajan conducting fellow.

O'Bryant thumbnailDaniel O’Bryant currently serves as the Director of Orchestras at Northern Arizona University. His prior appointments include Music Director of the Heartland Symphony, Associate Conductor of the St. Cloud Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Salt Lake Opera Company, and Director of Orchestras at St. Cloud State University. O’Bryant was the founding director of both the Utah County Chamber Players and the St. Cloud State University Youth Orchestra.

Yankovskaya thumbnailLidiya Yankovskaya currently serves as Artistic Director with Juventas New Music Ensemble, Music Director with Commonwealth Lyric Theater, and as a conductor with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. She served as a Conducting Fellow under Lorin Maazel, former Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, at his Castleton Festival. Yankovskaya’s performances have been awarded the American Prize and the National Opera Association Award, and she has been named part of Marin Alsop’s Taki Concordia Fellowship program.

FSO MUSIC DIRECTOR SEARCH FACT SHEET

In June 2015, Elizabeth Schulze announced she would conclude her tenure as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra in April 2017 at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Maestra Schulze began her tenure in 2008. Upon stepping down in 2017 she will have been the artistic leader of the FSO for nine seasons.

The FSO formed its Music Director search committee in August 2015. The committee consists of 12 members, including FSO musicians, board members, and community leaders.

The FSO received more than 120 applications for the Music Director position. The search committee identified four finalists through a thorough process that included review of application materials, videos of candidates conducting, and interviews.

On February 1, 2016 the FSO announced four finalist candidates who will conduct the orchestra during the 2016-17 season. The guest conductors will each be in Flagstaff for a concert week in October, January, February, and March.

Programs for the 2016-17 season will be discussed, planned, and agreed upon by the candidates and search committee.

The FSO plans to announce the 7th Music Director of the Flagstaff Symphony in spring 2017 at the conclusion of the four candidate concerts.