“The new musical director and conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will be making his debut this weekend with performances in Charleston and Parkersburg on Saturday and Sunday,” writes Wayne Tower in Wednesday’s (9/20) News and Sentinel (Parkersburg, W.V.). “Lawrence Loh was named to the position in May to succeed Grant Cooper, who served for 16 years.” Opening concerts will feature Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Copland’s Symphony No. 3, and Gershwin’s Concerto in F, with pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine. “The WVSO will present a lecture on insights and stories about three of America’s greatest composers and their music at 1:30 p.m. Sunday…. ‘There were a lot of things the WVSO was doing in a really positive way that was really getting the attention of people like me,’ he said…. Loh said he wants to continue Cooper’s legacy … and also … ‘continue to expand the orchestra’s repertoire. I have some different ideas about educational programs and reaching new audiences.’ ” Loh is music director of Symphoria in Syracuse, N.Y, and concludes his 13-year tenure as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic at the end of this season. He has held several staff conducting positions at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Posted September 21, 2017
