Classical Music - Sentinel Colorado

The search for the Aurora Symphony Orchestra’s next music director will span another year, as five candidates take turns conducting concerts during the group’s 2012-13 concert season.
According to ASO President and Executive Director Rich Dustin, the coming season will feature five different conductors leading the orchestra’s fall masterworks, holiday masterworks, children’s/pops, spring masterworks and Arts for a Better Tomorrow shows. The final candidates to replace outgoing music director Richard Niezen are John Jong-hun Bae, Geoffrey Pope, Arturo Gonzalez, Devin Hughes and Norman Gamboa.
“It’s pretty common for the music director search process to take about two years. There’s a well established process documented through the League of American Orchestras,” Dustin said. “I adapted it to fit our group.”
Dustin added that apart from limits related to difficulty and budget, the final five candidates had the freedom to choose music to conduct at the concerts. The 2012-13 season will feature works by established composers like Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Bach, as well as tributes to Ennio Marrione and a performance of Grant Still’s “Afro-American Symphony.”
“It had to be something that was already in our possession – we have an enormous music library – or it was something that they could bring to the orchestra themselves and not cost us any money,” Dustin said. “Some of them were trying to put on the most impressive program that they could possibly find.”
Richard Niezen, who has been with the ASO for more than a decade, will conduct his final concert as the music director on May 19 during the annual “Arts for a Better Tomorrow” concert at Gateway High School. Dustin has said that Niezen’s legacy will last beyond his final year with the organization, largely because of his contributions to the orchestra’s skill level and breadth. It’s a commitment Dustin says is essential to the music director post.
“As the face of the orchestra, this person has to appeal to the community. A good portion of what we’re going to do next season is see how they do with the community in general,” Dustin said. “Richard Niezen has given every ounce of his soul for a job that pays $15,000 a year. Who works that hard for that money? Someone who’s in it for the love of the art.”

Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com or 720-449-9707