In Thursday’s (6/5) Petoskey News (Michigan), Rachel Brougham writes, “Those who knew Matthew Hazelwood say he wasn’t just a leader, he was an artist who brought meaning to all those around him. Hazelwood, music director of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra in Petoskey, died Thursday after a heart attack while in Colombia. He was 57 years old. … Hazelwood worked with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra since its inception in 2001. In 2004, he was named music director, a position he held until his death. He also served as conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra from 1993 to 2008 and was current music advisor and conductor of the Batuta National Youth Orchestra in Colombia, an arts education program. There, he was responsible for working with the conducting and teaching staff in 100 music centers throughout Colombia, as well as providing overall artistic guidance to the many programs that serve more than 50,000 young student musicians. He also served as the artistic director and principal conductor of the Colombian Youth Philharmonic.” Hazelwood was most recently involved in the first visit to Colombia of the radio show From The Top; the segment will air in late September.
Posted June 8, 2012
