“Two days after Thanksgiving, there was another tradition that was held in Winter Park. As they have for many years, the Orlando Philharmonic gathered in Central Park to stage their annual Holiday Pops concert,” writes Michael Freeman in Thursday’s (12/4) Orlando Sentinel (Florida). “Conductor Paul Hostetter led the Philharmonic in a selection of holiday favorites, from ‘Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’ to ‘Festive Sounds of Hanukkah,’ and ‘Sleigh Ride.’ As [executive director David] Schillhammer noted, this has been an important year for the Orlando Philharmonic … [which] is now actively searching for their next music director, and the Phil has invited five candidates to conduct concerts throughout the season. The winner will be announced next spring.” … Having their candidates serve as conductor for a public concert—whether at Central Park or the Bob Carr Theater in Orlando, he said—lets the entire Central Florida community become a part of the search process. ‘We’ve really engaged the community,’ Schillhammer said. ‘It’s been a very open process, and an engaging process…. It may be no coincidence, Schillhammer added, that sales are strong. ‘We’ve been selling out every concert we’ve given this season,’ he said.” The five music director candidates are Alondra de la Parra, Steven Jarvi, Eric Jacobsen, Dirk Meyer, and Leslie Dunner.
Posted December 5, 2014
