In Monday’s (8/15) Salt Lake Tribune, Celia R. Baker writes, “Associate conductor David Cho is leaving the Utah Symphony for the best possible reason: to take the helm of his own orchestra. Cho will become music director of Texas’ Lubbock Symphony in fall 2012 after first spending an academic year as associate conductor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston. Vladimir Kulenovic has replaced him as the Utah Symphony’s assistant conductor. Cho will conduct the orchestra in a farewell concert at Salt Lake City’s Abravanel Hall on Aug. 17. Utah Symphony vice president of artistic planning Toby Tolokan said the unusual musical goodbye is a mark of the organization’s respect for Cho. In his five years as associate conductor, Cho bore heavy responsibilities, and he grew in all areas of his multipronged job, said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera CEO Melia Tourangeau. … One of Cho’s most important duties lay outside the public spotlight. He attended all of the orchestra’s masterwork rehearsals as an understudy for the music director and guest conductors. … Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer valued Cho’s opinions during the rehearsal process. ‘David has a great set of ears, and he’s very honest about what he’s hearing,’ Tourangeau said.”
Posted August 16, 2011
