ISU has tons of built-in advantages for me as an orchestral conductor. Foremost among them, of course, is the amazing facility we have at the Stephens Performing Arts Center, but the main advantage is the quality of people I have to work with. Many people look at my job and may think that it's pretty much about showing up, waving the baton around and watching the magic of music unfold, but the actual gritty truth is that my job is about 60 percent administrative and 40 percent artistic. Sometimes the line between the two is fuzzy, but I don't think that it's nearly as glamorous as it looks when people come to a concert. I don't mind this at all. That people can come to a concert confident of a good show with big-league production values is a great feeling for me, and I know we're on the right track as we've already had three sold-out performances this year. In fact we're anticipating a totally sold-out season, most likely a first for our organization.
Photo Taken By Christopher DavisNone of this would happen if I didn't have great people collaborating with me on these projects (and every single concert is its own project). The people I work most closely with at the Stephens Performing Arts Center, Bill Wiench and Bill Stanton (or, I know this is corny, but "The Bills") are about as top-notch as they come. To say I am lucky to work with people of this quality is a gross understatement. They're the ones who truly make everything look smooth and easy. To find people who value their craft as seriously as they do but are also easy to work with is no small feat. Also, I'm blessed to work with very fine colleagues at the Music Department. Since I've arrived, every full-time member of the department has performed with the orchestra as a soloist or an orchestra member, and most of the part-time faculty have as well. This is a testament to the collegiality and quality of our faculty, and it provides a great working environment for our students. I believe very strongly that our public universities provide a viable alternative to private colleges and universities, and my colleagues are proof of that. I think one could spend a lot of money and still not receive the one-on-one attention and fine instruction that my colleagues offer.
Lastly, I want to speak about the collaborative community/university aspect of the Idaho State Civic Symphony. The symphony is supported financially by a symphony board who raises money for the ongoing operation of our orchestra. They not only provide money for guest artists, but they have also contributed many of the instruments (like the timpani) and all of the chairs and stands you see on stage at Jensen Grand Concert Hall. The university provides the fantastic facilities of the Stephens Performing Arts Center, and I think I have the best office in America. The amazing views of the natural splendor of the Portneuf Valley take my breath away every time. Collaborations like ours are a model for the future of orchestral music in small to mid-sized communities in the US. There is, of course, the fact that this collaboration saves money, but that's not the most important thing. The best part about it is that it brings the university and community together, giving both stakeholders a sense of ownership in what happens. We have professors sitting next to amateur musicians in the orchestra, the symphony board working with upper administration at ISU and the people of Southeast Idaho coming together to watch the fruits of this collaboration in our amazing hall. My life goal is to bring people together to create understanding and genuine connections that cut across all of the lines that might separate us from each other. That I get to do that for a living is truly a privilege.
