“Damon Gupton is better known as Bill Henderson, a detective he plays on the superhero TV series ‘Black Lightning,’ than as a conductor of major American orchestras,” writes Janelle Gelfand in Monday’s (8/12) Cincinnati Business Courier. “But Gupton, 46, has been named the first-ever principal guest conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. Pops conductor John Morris Russell and the orchestra announced his appointment Aug. 12. Gupton’s three-year contract begins in September, when he conducts the Pops in John Williams’ soundtrack to ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ … projected on the big screen in Music Hall. ‘To be able to do this soundtrack with this orchestra as my first concert in a newly appointed position is deeply moving to me,’ said Gupton by phone from his Los Angeles home…. The Detroit native will lead four programs during the 2019-20 season, including New Year’s Eve, the annual Classical Roots concert … and a Pops show with Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers…. He has guest-conducted the Pops four times since 2014.” In an interview, Gupton discusses balancing his acting and conducting careers, playing the trombone, his conducting mentors, and listening to Cincinnati Pops recordings conducted by the late Erich Kunzel.
Posted August 14, 2019
