In Thursday’s (9/12) Philadelphia Inquirer, David Patrick Stearns writes that Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has been appointed to inaugurate a four-year conducting program at the Curtis Institute of Music. “ ‘I have become the musician and conductor that I am today because of every teacher I have had, and it is with this in mind that I look forward to becoming the first mentor conductor at Curtis,’ Nézet-Séguin said in a statement released this week.… Curtis president Roberto Diaz said Wednesday, ‘We want to see what we can give that’s a more hands-on experience. It evens out the playing field with what we do for instrumentalists and singers.’ The first conducting fellow—in a program that stands outside Curtis’ formal degree program—is Kensho Watanabe, who graduated this year. The program will involve more conducting and bigger assignments than Curtis has offered.” Stearns writes that Nézet-Séguin is “deeply intrigued by the possibilities” for the program, “such as extending the training into the practicality of the profession. Watanabe will be in on planning meetings with the orchestra staff and will join his mentor for engagements outside Philadelphia.”
Posted September 12, 2013
Yannick Nézet-Séguin photo by Chris Lee
