Randall Craig Fleischer, music director of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in Poughkeepsie, New York, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 19 at his home in Los Angeles. Fleischer “was 61 years old and from the Canton area,” states a report on Thursday’s (8/20) television station WKBN in Youngstown, Ohio. “His wife said he was fine all day, but then told her he wasn’t feeling well and a half-hour later, she found him dead. So far there’s no cause of death, but an autopsy is planned…. Just yesterday, 10 or so hours before Fleischer passed, [a reporter] interviewed him about the Youngstown Symphony’s latest event, the DeYor Livestream Gala…. Fleischer had put together a virtual gala concert and show that he was to narrate live Saturday evening on the orchestra’s website…. the show will go on as planned, but with no host…. The musicians are working on a way to honor their conductor.” In addition to his music directorships, Fleischer led orchestras in the U.S. and internationally, including repeat engagements with the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, and others.
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