Maestro Raymond Harvey
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kalamazoo, MI - September 14, 2016 The Kalamazoo
Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and Raymond Harvey, Music
Director, announce the transition of Maestro Harvey to Music Director
Emeritus at the conclusion of the 2016-17 concert season.
Maestro
Harvey has led the orchestra as its Music Director for the last
eighteen years. For the past two years, Mr. Harvey has been Associate
Professor and Music Director of the Moores Opera Center at the
University of Houston. Mr. Harvey reflected, “Teaching has always been
my calling, and my love of opera has been a mainstay in my life. To be
asked to head a university opera program at this stage in my
professional career is a terrific blessing.”
As Maestro Harvey
finishes his time with the KSO to continue in his role in Houston, he
will return to Kalamazoo once a year, in the role of Music Director
Emeritus, to conduct a concert with the orchestra.
Mr. Harvey stated
in a letter sent to donors, sponsors, and friends of the KSO, “It is
with great regret that I need to designate the current season as my last
as Music Director of the KSO. These eighteen years have been a joyous
time for me, and I’m delighted that the KSO has asked me to become Music
Director Emeritus, returning once a year to conduct a concert and
reconnect with my friends. Please continue to support this marvelous
organization and carry it forward in the years ahead. I will miss you
all tremendously.”
Janice Brown, Chair of the Board of Directors,
said, “The gift and legacy that Raymond leaves with this community will
be treasured always. We are thrilled that he will return each year to
reconnect with all of us. We are grateful that he’s been a great and
true friend of the KSO.”
“Raymond Harvey has been an amazing asset for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra during his eighteen-year tenure,”
said Peter H. Gistelinck, President & CEO of the KSO. “We are
honored and privileged that he now has accepted to transition into the
role of Music Director Emeritus so that his important connection with
the Kalamazoo community will be kept alive.”
Daniel Brier,
Resident Conductor of the KSO, said, "It has been a great pleasure for
me to work with Maestro Harvey over these past few seasons. His
consistent artistry on the podium and his commitment to our community
will be greatly missed.”
2016-17 will be a celebratory season,
filled with opportunities to reflect on Maestro Harvey’s time with the
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and to celebrate the legacy that he leaves
with our community.
Plans are already in the works to convene a
search committee that will be tasked with finding Raymond’s successor.
The search process will be by invitation only. Daniel Brier, our
Resident Conductor, will provide continuity through this time of
transition – working with the orchestra in his usual capacity but
extending his time and talents as needed during the search process. We
are confident that the new Music Director will join the committed team
already in place to move the KSO forward in realizing its vision for the
future, as laid out clearly in our important Strategic Plan.
Raymond Harvey Music Director, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
For
more than 35 years, Raymond Harvey has made a significant impact as an
American conductor of great skill and insight. Born in New York City,
he studied piano and conducting, receiving Bachelor's and Master's
degrees in choral conducting from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; and
then studied orchestral conducting at the Yale School of Music, earning
Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.
This season Maestro Harvey celebrates 18 years as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony
Orchestra. He previously held the top post at the Fresno Philharmonic
(California), Springfield Symphony (Massachusetts), and El Paso Opera
(Texas).
Maestro Harvey has appeared as guest conductor with
many of America’s leading orchestras, including those of Philadelphia,
Atlanta, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Detroit, New Orleans and
Minnesota, as well as the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s
Concerts and the Boston Pops. He has also had engagements with the
Maggio Musicale Orchestra of Florence, Italy, the Pusan Symphony of
South Korea, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. He
regularly performs as a pianist, both in chamber music and as
pianist/conductor in works of Gershwin, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff.
In
addition to his commitment to Kalamazoo, Dr. Harvey has been named an
Associate Professor at the University of Houston, where he serves as
Music Director of the Moores School of Music opera department. His
operatic repertoire is extensive, including favorites such as Carmen,
Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Bohème, Turandot, and Aïda; as well as the
more rarely performed The Consul, The Rape of Lucretia, and Samson and
Delilah.
The Kalamazoo community continues to embrace Raymond
Harvey through appreciation of his compelling performances and engaging
lectures.
Retweeted
By SWWS Symphony (@SWWSymphony)
Retweeted
By SWWS Symphony (@SWWSymphony)
No comments:
Post a Comment