Bruno
Ferrandis Named SR Symphony Music Director
News
Release Contact:
Sara
Obuchowski, (707)
546-7097 ext 218
March
17, 2006
(Santa
Rosa, CA) —
Santa Rosa Symphony's board of directors
has named 45-year-old Bruno Ferrandis of Paris,
France, to the position of Music Director.
Ferrandis succeeds Jeffrey Kahane as the fourth
music director in the 78-year history of the
Santa Rosa Symphony.
Ferrandis' appointment follows an extensive
two-year search and his selection has received
overwhelming support from orchestra musicians.
He was recommended unanimously by the
Music Director Search Committee, consisting
of four musicians, five SRS board members and
the executive director. Nancy Berto,
Search Committee co-chair stated that ãafter
thorough consideration of musicians, audience,
staff and Board evaluations, the search committee
unanimously selected Bruno Ferrandis as their
recommendation to the SRS Board. In the tradition
of Corrick Brown and Jeffrey Kahane, Bruno
Ferrandis will take our orchestra to its next
level of achievement.ä
Ferrandis conducted the orchestra just last
month, and was chosen from seven finalists
after a complex process that brought some of
the best available national and international
talent to the Symphony's podium. "You
might say we saved the best for last," said
SRS board President Anne Benedetti. ã"I'm
so proud of the caliber of our orchestra and
our supportive audience and community that
allowed us to attract Maestro Ferrandis. I
believe he will further our vision of being
one of Americaâs leading regional symphony
orchestras, especially as we move into a world-class
concert hall."
Upon accepting the Symphony's offer,
Ferrandis wrote: "I am thrilled and
happy, almost overwhelmed, at this life-changing
appointment! I embrace the opportunity to work
with such an ensemble of capable musicians,
and together with them to present a broad direction,
a strong vision and the highest quality of
music-making for the Northern California audience."
The Santa Rosa Symphony music director position
is Ferrandis' first such appointment
with a professional symphony orchestra, and
the organization will be well served by his
twenty years of conducting experience, which
began at Juilliard and has continued through
appearances with some of the world's
great opera companies and the finest orchestras
of Europe and Asia. His responsibilities as
SRS music director will include rehearsing
and conducting as many as six of the seven
classical concert sets annually, providing
artistic vision and guidance, planning programs,
and selecting guest artists and guest conductors.
SRS concertmaster Joe Edelberg, one of the
musicians represented on the Music Director
Search Committee, expressed his enthusiasm.
"I'm
very pleased about Bruno. He is an artist of
considerable stature and a warm-hearted man.
Also, fun to work with and be with. The orchestra
and the community are lucky to have him."
Ferrandis has conducted all over the world,
and his breadth of musical experience includes
not only symphony and opera, but also ballet,
musical theater and cinema-accompanying music.
After graduating from the Guildhall School
of Music and Drama in London, he received a
master's degree in conducting from the
Juilliard School in New York in 1986. Ferrandis
was conductor of the Juilliard Pre-College
Orchestra for four years as well as guest conductor
of the Juilliard Opera Center. He also co-founded
the New Music Ensemble "Music Mobile" in
New York City.
Santa Rosa Symphony Executive Director Alan
Silow characterized the selection of Ferrandis
as "an inspired choice bringing world-class
conducting skills, a profound sense of collegial
music-making, and a passionate and creative
commitment to community outreach." Silow
went on to say, "Our audience members
can attest to the fact that the roster of candidates
brought an extraordinary level of musicianship
and artistry to the podium. When Ferrandis
conducted here, it was clearly visible that
his enormous gifts inspired our musicians to
heretofore unseen levels of musical distinction."
Audience feedback provided through the Symphony's
website survey was overwhelmingly positive.
One patron summed it up: "Ferrandis
reached into the heart of the music and into
the heart of the orchestra, and, as a result,
sounds came forth that drew us in and made
us part of it too. We canât imagine a
better choice for our fine orchestra."
Jeffrey Kahane, now SRS Music Director, added
his congratulations as he prepares for his
final appearances with the Santa Rosa Symphony
over the next two months: "I am
absolutely thrilled and delighted for the orchestra
and the community of music lovers in Sonoma
County: I know that Bruno Ferrandis is a wonderful
choice and I look forward to hearing the orchestra
under its immensely gifted new music director."
Ferrandis' appointment as SRS Music Director
commences in the 2006-2007 season. His schedule
permits him to conduct three of the seven Classical
Series concerts: the season opener in October
2006, the 4th set in January 2007 and the final
set in May 2007. Ferrandis plans to make the
Santa Rosa Symphony his principal commitment
when he moves to the Bay Area prior to the
opening of the 2007-2008 season.
Esteemed guest conductors will fill in the
remaining slots: Joana Carneiro, assistant
conductor of the LA Philharmonic who guest
conducted here to great acclaim in February
2005, will conduct in December 2006; Conductor
Emeritus Corrick Brown will conduct in celebration
of his 50th anniversary with the
Santa Rosa Symphony in February 2007; and Edward
Gardner, recently named music director of the
English National Opera will conduct in March
2007. |
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