Artists Corner: Q & A with Yehuda Gilad

An accomplished conductor, clarinetist, and teacher, Yehuda Gilad has been Music Director and Conductor of the Colburn Orchestra since its inception, and a distinguished member of The Colburn School faculty for many years. Among his former music directorships are the Colonial Symphony of New Jersey (1988-2003), the 20th-Century Unlimited concert series (Santa Fe, New Mexico) and the Thornton Chamber Orchestra (University of Southern California). He is also founder of the Yoav Chamber Ensemble, Colburn Woodwind Chamber Players and the Strawberry Creek Music Festival in Malibu, California where he also served as Music Director. Maestro Gilad is regularly invited to guest conduct orchestras abroad and has guest conducted throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. A recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award from the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, Yehuda Gilad is regularly invited to present master classes and performances at music conservatories and festivals worldwide as well as adjudicating at major international competitions. Many of his former students perform in top orchestras around the globe. As the Colburn Orchestras 10th anniversary season opening concert approaches on September 29th, we asked Maestro Gilad a few questions: Why did you select Shostakovichs Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54, for the Colburn Orchestra to play for its first concert of the season? Symphony No. 6 is a great way to introduce, in a compact manner, Shostakovichs varied moods and personality. Having just completed his Symphony No. 5, by his own admission he wanted to write something purely for himself. The grim opening unfolds in the latter two movements to cynicism and sarcasm, and finally finishes with pure circus. The work calls for the orchestra to musically portray different moods, different characters, and features many solos by orchestra members throughout the piece, demonstrating the talent of this great orchestra. And as a main mission of The Colburn School is to train young artists to perform as soloists, as chamber musicians, and as members of an orchestra at the highest level, this work provides an excellent opportunity for the students to hone their orchestral skills. While the Colburn Orchestra has engaged acclaimed guest artists over the years, the majority of soloists tend to be students. Why is this so important? At The Colburn School, students come first. Their development as soloists and the preparation for their careers is paramount to our mission. We strive to provide a framework for very accomplished and polished student performers to have an opportunity to perform as soloist with orchestra, which gives them the experience needed to do well in competitions, play as soloists with professional orchestras, and generally further their professional careers. Is there a piece in one of the upcoming season concerts that you are particularly looking forward to having the Colburn Orchestra perform? There are many pieces Im looking forward to conducting this season, but the main three are Brahms Symphony No. 1, which is very special to me, Sibeliuss Symphony No.1 and Strauss Don Juan. These are pieces I grew up with as a conductor, and worked on with Sergiu Celibidache and Herbert Zipper, and so they are very close to my heart. Im also looking forward to the Beethoven Violin Concerto, which is one of my favorite concertos from all the instrumental concerti. I invite everyone to come to our concerts, to sit back and be inspired, because I know for sure that on stage we will be inspired.
The 10th anniversary season of the Colburn Orchestra opens September 29, 2012, at 7:30 pm at Pasadenas Ambassador Auditorium. Visit www.colburnschool.edu/performances for further details on the season.