Top conductors surge to headless music school

Top conductors surge to headless music school

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

January 18, 2023

Larry Rachleff, who died last summer aged 67, had long established himself as one of America’s major conducting teachers. Living in Houston, he was Professor of Orchestral Conducting and Music Director of the Shepherd School Symphony and Chamber orchestras. There were questions as to how Shepherd could cope without him.

Shepherd has now come up with answers. Many of Larry’s former pupils and friends will teach there this year. They include Cristian Măcelaru, music director of the Orchestre National de France, and Patrick Summers, artistic director of Houston Grand Opera.

Coming up being them are Robert Spano, music director of the Fort Worth Symphony; Hans Graf, music director of the Singapore Symphony; William Eddins, music director emeritus of Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; Lidiya Yankovskaya, music director of Chicago Opera Theater; Miguel Harth-Bedoya, director of orchestral studies at Baylor University; and Giancarlo Guerrero, music director of the Nashville Symphony and NFM Wrocław Philharmonic in Poland.

Not a bad line-up.

Comments

  • Patty Smith says:

    A lot of WHITE males in that line-up. Wow. And the same ol’, same ol’. Truly disappointing for a music school of that caliber to not be more advanced in their DEI work.

    • drummerman says:

      Out of the 8 names listed, I see 4 who are neither “white” nor “male.”

      50% non white ,non male. Exactly what is your concern with this?

      • Kyle says:

        I see 0 who are NEITHER “white” nor “male.”

        I think you make a fair point in regard to there being some diversity in what seems to be a somewhat hastily appointed group, but let’s not let carelessness lead us to make overexaggerated or erroneous claims.

        • drummerman says:

          sorry that my grammar was poor –

        • Enquiring Mind says:

          hastily appointed? at least read their bios and you be begin to see the fit

          • Kyle says:

            What do they bios have to do with how quickly the position was filled?

            You seem to think “hastily appointed” was meant to imply unfit. It was not and does not. It directly states that the position had to be filled quickly. It also indirectly implies that conductors often have commitments many years in advance, and filling such a position for the coming year could be quite a challenge. I give the Shepherd School due credit for filling the position so well given the circumstances.

    • anmarie says:

      What irks me is the number of BLACK males involved with rap. Wow. Truly disappointing.

    • Hans-Dieter Glaubke says:

      Boring! Please, embrace energy and search for a hint of originality!

    • L Fields says:

      DEI has nothing to do with this. Period. Who is most qualified DOES REGARDLESS of their color or genetics. I am sick to death of this “equality business”! I WA want to work with people who are excellent musicians! And for the record, as a professional union musician I do not like most women directors/conductors. Although there are some very decent ones, we never seem to get to work with them. The women we see are usually b*tchy and always trying to prove themselves-& I’m a woman so I can say this. It gets very, VERY old!

    • Boo Hiss says:

      If you haven’t noticed, merit is slowly mattering again.

    • Justin Ferrero says:

      How about Lydia Tár ?

    • Johns says:

      One reason rice is a high caliber music program is because they ignore “DEI advancement”

  • Larry says:

    Has Shepherd indicated that will not find a permanent replacement for Rachleff but instead have a number of guests each year?

  • Willem Philips says:

    What does “Coming up being them” mean? See the first sentence of paragraph three. It’s not English, as far as I am concerned. Try again, please.

  • Rice Alumnus says:

    It’s 2023. One female conductor out of eight. Shame on Shepherd for failing to lead in this regard.

  • Maziar Heidari says:

    As a professional, I always strive for excellence and maintain a positive attitude toward learning and growth.

  • Lili Wilson says:

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  • DarylDixon says:

    The situation at the music school is both intriguing and concerning. It’s commendable to see top conductors stepping in during such a tumultuous time, showcasing the resilience and dedication of the music community. Their commitment to ensuring that the students receive the best possible education, even in the absence of a formal head, speaks volumes about their passion for the art. However, it also raises questions about the long-term stability and direction of the institution. It’s essential for any educational establishment to have a clear leadership structure in place. On a slightly related note, I’ve been researching the evolution of musical notation and its parallels with programming languages for a paper I’m writing. The way music and code are both forms of language, conveying intricate details and emotions, is fascinating. I’ve been thinking of consulting a site https://codinghomeworkhelp.org/html-assignment-help.html that specializes in research papers on programming to refine my thesis. Does anyone have insights on how musical notation has influenced or been influenced by modern coding practices?

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