In the East Oregonian on Wednesday (7/31), Patrick Mulvihill reports the appointment of Beau Benson as music director of the Pendleton-based Oregon East Symphony; he succeeds Anthony Spain, who resigned last year to pursue other projects. Benson “comes with a great deal of experience under his belt. He has directed numerous public orchestras across Texas including the Waco Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra and the Metroplex Opera in Dallas. He’s also a scholar with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Southern Methodist University and twin bachelor’s degrees in classical guitar performance and music education.” Benson, who lives in Waco with his wife and daughter, “will act as a commuting conductor, traveling to Pendleton two weeks before each of his three OES performances.” Mulvihill notes that “though the OES only confirmed the Texas music master for the 2013-2014 season, [Executive Director Michelle] Sitz hopes the maestro will stay longer. ‘We feel like he’ll be a great music director,’ she said.”
Posted August 6, 2013
