In Saturday’s (6/18) State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois), Brian Mackey writes, “Local music patrons say they’ll move quickly to find a replacement for Richard Haglund, who announced Friday he is resigning from the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. … Haglund has been music director and conductor of the youth symphony since 2003. He has also been assistant conductor and librarian of the ISO. In an email sent Friday to supporters of the youth symphony, Haglund said he enjoyed his time with the organization and will miss the students. ‘I’ve thought about it long and hard—it wasn’t a quick decision, that’s for sure,’ Haglund said in a telephone interview. ‘It’s bittersweet, but after eight seasons, it’s time for me to go on and do something else.’ Haglund said he was moving to Chicago to focus on his work with the Erato Chamber Orchestra, where he is the founder and music director, and to sell high-end string instruments in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. … [Haglund] said he’s proud of how far the [youth symphony] has come under his tenure—particularly increasing the membership from about 70 students when he started to the more than 300 students who participate today.”
Posted June 20, 2011
