Chelsea Tipton II,, the new principal pops conductor for the New Haven
Symphony Orchestra, will be on the podium Sunday, March 8, in Shelton
for "Big Band Meets the Symphony."
(Contributed photo)
(Contributed photo)
Phyllis A.S. Boros
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
More and more, what defines a great conductor in
America is technical ability coupled with a wizardry to instill within
musicians a sense of joy and a desire to perform at the highest
level possible.
Sounds fairly straightforward: Talent should be the bottom line. But
at one time, American orchestra administrators and board members would
seem to favor white European males, who were thought to be better
trained than their American counterparts.
As the world has changed, so have music circles, making room (albeit
slowly) for men and women of all nationalities, sexual orientation and
racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
And, of course, that's the way it should be, says Chelsea Tipton II, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra's new principal pops conductor, who is black.
Tipton, starting his first season with the NHSO, said in a recent
chat from New Orleans (where he had a three-night guest-conducting gig
with the Louisiana Philharmonic)
that it is his experience that wherever he performs musicians want
their "conductors to be efficient as possible with their time during
rehearsals (where all the important musical decisions are made) and to
help them play as well as they possibly can.
"If there is any bias, it certainly isn't with the musicians," who appreciate talent in whatever package it's wrapped, he said.
Tipton, 50, who lives in Beaumont, Texas (where he is music director
of the Symphony of Southeast Texas), said the NHSO post is his first as a
pops conductor, and that he looks upon it as another musical
learning experience.
Plus, he loves "the quality of NHSO musicians," as well as one of New Haven's signature foods: "The pizza is amazing."
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