“Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra patrons have a chance to hear what finalists for the music director position can do during the 39th season,” writes Jessi Virtusio in Monday’s (10/10) Daily Southtown (south/southwest Chicago suburbs). “Holly Mathieson conducts ‘Beethoven 3 and the Search for Greatness’ Oct. 15 at Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts in University Park. ‘It’s really exciting to be the season opener,’ said Mathieson via a Skype call from London where she teaches at Goldsmiths, University of London…. According to the League of American Orchestras, less than 10 percent of symphony orchestra music directors in the United States are women. The season opener includes the Violin Concerto by Jean Sibelius performed by Serbian-Italian violinist Stefan Milenkovich, associate professor of violin at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.… Mathieson … was named one of New Zealand’s 50 Women of Achievement for making an impact on other women’s lives and rights…. Mathieson, resident conductor of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland Junior Orchestra … is one of five finalists from 175-plus worldwide applicants for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra music director position vacated by David Danzmayr in May. The other finalists are Darko Butorac [February], Stilian Kirov [January], Sean Newhouse [April] and Alastair Willis [November].”
Posted October 11, 2016
