“The Rhode Island Philharmonic has picked Grammy-winning conductor, composer and pianist Bramwell Tovey to lead the 74-year-old symphony orchestra,” writes Channing Gray in Thursday’s (9/13) Providence Journal (R.I.). Effective immediately, his title will be artistic advisor, and he succeeds longtime conductor Larry Rachleff. “The British-born Tovey … 65, recently stepped down as [music director] of Canada’s Vancouver Symphony…. He is also principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra in England, and last year was named head of conducting studies at Boston University…. [At] the Los Angeles Philharmonic … he is principal guest conductor of summer concerts in the Hollywood Bowl…. Tovey … has … penned an opera, trumpet and violin concertos, as well as a concerto for orchestra set to premiere in 2019. He … established new music festivals in Vancouver and Winnipeg…. Tovey … was the driving force behind the establishment of the Vancouver Symphony Music School, which he modeled to a large extent on the [Rhode Island] Philharmonic’s own acclaimed music school…. Tovey … will … take over full-time in 2019, when the orchestra celebrates its 75th anniversary.” Philharmonic Executive Director David Beauchesne described Tovey as “the perfect person to build on Rachleff’s legacy.”
Posted September 14, 2018
