[James DePreist]
Posted: 08/30/2010
“PASADENA - On his first visit to Pasadena since being named artistic advisor to the Pasadena Symphony in June, Maestro James DePreist found his surroundings strangely familiar. 'I think I conducted the Monte Carlo Symphony here a few years ago,' DePreist said, looking around at the orchestra's new Ambassador Auditorium digs. 'I know my aunt, Marian Anderson, sang here.' DePreist may face a less daunting situation than the iconic African-American contralto when she sang from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 at Eleanor Roosevelt's invitation.
“But the 73-year-old DePreist said he knows his new job will have its own challenges at a 'fragile' time for orchestras in this country. He gave 'considerable thought' to becoming advisor to the symphony on guest conductors, soloists and orchestral repertoire, he said. More so in light of the publicly unexplained departure of Maestro Jorge Mester in May after 25 years, then last week's sudden resignation of 10-year POPS music director Rachael Worby.
"'It gives one pause,' he said, adding that it suggested not everyone has been 'on the same page.' 'The question is, can you rise above the schisms that exist? I don't underestimate the challenge at all,' DePreist said. 'I know Jorge, we've been friends for a long time,' DePreist said. 'I'm not a replacement for anyone, I'm not rushing in to fill a void ... I agreed to work alongside everyone, in a way that I can use the experience I have. And if I can't, I will be the fastest person leaving Pasadena."
[On March 1, 2010 AfriClassical.com announced a complete revision of its page on James DePreist (b. 1936), the world-famous African American conductor who is Director of Conducting & Orchestral Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City. James De Preist has also published two volumes of poetry and has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]
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