The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra has appointed THOMAS FORTNER as music director of the South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra and assistant conductor of the South Dakota Symphony, beginning in the 2017-18 season. Fortner will oversee artistic development and lead rehearsals and performances for ensembles within the youth orchestra, and will work with the South Dakota Symphony in multiple capacities, including concerts, education, touring, and community engagement. A Texas native, Fortner recently completed his graduate performance degree in conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, and while in Baltimore he was assistant conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. As the founder and artistic director of the Iowa Great Lakes Music Festival, he partnered with local performing arts presenters to bring musical performances to the Iowa Great Lakes region. He served as a cover conductor for the Concert Artists of Baltimore, and taught for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids and the Bridges Academy programs. Fortner completed a bachelor’s and master’s degree in cello performance at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.
Posted August 1, 2017
