In Thursday’s (7/9) Sacramento Bee, Edward Ortiz reports, “After a two-year tryout process, the Music in the Mountains classical music festival has chosen Gregory Vajda as its permanent conductor. The 35-year-old Vajda had been vying for the top conducting spot at the Grass Valley festival with pianist-conductor Stephen Prutsman in a series of Music in the Mountains concerts. Vajda becomes only the second conductor in the Music In The Mountains’ 28-year history. He replaces longtime conductor Paul Perry, who retired in 2008. … Vajda said he wants to move the MIM repertoire away from a string-based focus. ‘I’d like to change it to something like what you get with a mixed chamber ensemble, where you use more woodwinds, piano, percussion and brass mixed with strings,’ he said. ‘I believe this to be a more sellable and entertaining repertoire.’ That focus can broaden MIM’s audience base, Vajda said. … Vajda said he will remain resident conductor with the Oregon Symphony in Portland and that there will be no conflict between positions.”
Posted July 10, 2009
