“Ward Stare, who in 2014 at age 32 became the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s youngest-ever music director following one of its most turbulent periods, will leave the job at the end of the summer in 2021,” writes Marcia Greenwood in Monday’s (5/13) Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY). “Stare, now 36, announced his decision to the RPO board late last week and to the musicians earlier Monday…. Stare … a Pittsford native who graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School and went on to study at the Juilliard School … was the RPO’s 12th music director…. Under Stare’s direction, the orchestra will release a world-premiere recording later this month, and recently announced its 2019-2020 season, which, alongside traditional favorites from Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and others, will highlight musical trailblazers and innovators, Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony and suffragist history, and accomplished women composers and performers…. ‘Ward’s many new initiatives, including annual semi-staged operas, performances and recordings of world-premiere works, and a commitment to performing American music, further expanded the rich repertoire of the orchestra,’ stated Wes Nance, Second Trumpet and Chairperson of the Orchestra Committee. ‘Ward’s successful efforts to reconnect the RPO with the greater community will have a lasting impact.’ ”
Posted May 16, 2019
