“The Round Top Music Festival is a long-time Texas classical music tradition,” writes Catherine Lu on Wednesday (6/20) at Houston Public Media’s website. “Michelle Merrill is associate conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the newly appointed music director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia…. This summer, Michelle Merrill is making her debut at the Round Top Music Festival [conducting] a Joan Tower Celebration. Q: How did you fall in love with classical music, and specifically with conducting? Merrill: I grew up in Texas, which is a huge football state…. With football comes marching band… In high school, I became Drum Major for the marching band…. I loved it! Q: Do you have any personal advice for women pursuing careers in conducting or composing? Merrill: I have been extremely lucky in that I have never experienced prejudice or discrimination as some of my predecessors have. I owe a lot to the glass ceiling that they broke. Q: What has been your proudest moment as a conductor? Merrill: I made my subscription debut conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on March 31, 2016, which would have been my dad’s 76th birthday. He had always been supportive of my career.”
Posted June 22, 2018
