In Monday’s (4/29) Seattle Times, Tom Keogh writes, “Dr. Samuel Jones has been making a slow-motion exit from his duties at the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for a couple of years. But this Tuesday, the esteemed, Tacoma-based composer closes the door for good on a long and fruitful association. In June 2011, SSO capped Jones’ 14 years as the organization’s composer-in-residence with a ‘Samuel Jones Celebration,’ featuring his works performed by the orchestra, stellar guests and conductor Gerard Schwarz. At that time, Jones submitted his resignation from his other longtime role at Seattle Symphony: as director of the annual Merriman Family Young Composers Workshop. Jones figured SSO’s new music director, Ludovic Morlot, would appoint a successor to instruct local teen composers and host the seasonal Young Composers concert. But Morlot asked Jones to stay on. Jones has done so up through the current cycle of the workshop, which culminates Tuesday with a free performance at Benaroya Hall. … His relationship with SSO resulted in 13 world premieres and many performances of his other music, while his broader legacy includes premieres and years of conducting all over the U.S. Now Jones wants to catch up with back-burner projects and publishing tasks. … Jones is completing a new violin concerto for Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and a chamber version of his opera, ‘A Christmas Memory,’ based on the beloved short story by Truman Capote.”
Posted April 29, 2013
