In Tuesday’s (12/7) Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand reports, “An Ohio native will be the new conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. The orchestra announced today at Music Hall that John Morris Russell, 50, a native of Cleveland, will succeed Erich Kunzel as Pops conductor. He will begin his tenure on Sept. 1, and has been awarded a four-year contract. Russell, who lives in Windsor, Ontario, where he is in his 10th season as music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, will move with his family to Cincinnati this summer. At the early afternoon press conference, Russell donned the traditional red Pops blazer, spread his arms wide and crowed, ‘Hello Cincinnati!’ amid cheers and a standing ovation from board members, patrons, sponsors, musicians, staff, management, stage crew and local media who assembled in Music Hall’s lobby for the noontime announcement. … Russell’s history in Cincinnati goes back to 1995, when he succeeded Keith Lockhart as associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a post he held for 11 years. … The decision follows a yearlong search and was unanimous, said Jack Rouse, chair of the 13-member search committee.”
Photo by Jason Kryk/Windsor Star
Posted December 7, 2010
