News

HSO concludes music director search with three audition concerts

By Bill Moss, Published: February 14, 2022

The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra concludes its music director search with three concerts this spring.

The nationwide search, which started in the winter of 2019, evaluated more than 60 candidates to be considered for the permanent music director and conductor position at the HSO.
Tickets are on sale now for the final three audition concerts, all performed at the conference hall at Blue Ridge Community College. This season’s concert titles all reflect the mood of each concert: From Russia with Love on March 16, Insurmountable Odds on May 7 and New Beginnings on May 21.
“We are very excited for our line-up of concerts with our final three music director candidates,” said Paul Conroy, HSO executive director. “After an extensive search and interview process, we will now seek feedback from our audience members and musicians to help us choose who will lead our orchestra into the future.”
On March 19, From Russia with Love, begins the audition series with candidate Yuriy Bekker. Virtuoso trumpet soloist Francis LaPorte will be featured in Arutunian’s flashy “Trumpet Concerto.” The audience will be swept away with the beauty of other iconic Russian masterpieces by Borodin and Tchaikovsky.
The next candidate, Timothy Verville, will lead the HSO on the evening of May 7. His program, Insurmountable Odds, will include Daugherty’s “Red Cape Tango” and the dazzling “Scheherazade” by Rimsky-Korsakov. Canadian pianist Carter Johnson joins the orchestra performing Ravel’s “Concerto for the Left Hand”.
John Young Shik Concklin conducts the final candidate concert of the year on May 21. His program, New Beginnings, offers familiar and comforting works alike.
A single, reserved concert ticket is $45 for adults and $12 for students. A special three-concert ticket bundle is also available for $114 for adults and $30 for students. Tickets can be purchased at hendersonvillesymphony.org or by calling 828-697-5884.
In partnership with Blue Ridge Community College, HSO is taking every precaution to make the return to live performances this year safe and comfortable.