Director says he feels he attained goals for orchestra, community

The director says improvements have been evident in all areas.
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Isaiah Jackson took over as director of the Youngstown Symphony, he said he wanted to bring the music to the public.
He believes he has done that.
He said the quality of children's, Broadway and jazz concerts has improved and attendance has increased. The quality and range of music performed at classical concerts during his nine-year tenure also is better, he said.
He described the orchestra as a "wonderful, conscientious" group, one open to different styles. As a conductor, he said, his efforts focused on helping the orchestra play better together, more in tune, and, most importantly, "in balance -- to hear all their voices."
Jackson said he strives to get the orchestra to play with a "unified sense of style," fostering a sense of spirit among its members.
"When they're excited about what they're doing, it comes through," he said.
String section
One area he tried to focus on when he arrived was the string section.
"I think the string section is the glory of every orchestra," he said. "We worked very hard to improve the string culture of the orchestra."
Jackson said he is especially proud of the American Concerto season in 2001-02 and having concerts broadcast on WKBN-TV. He also noted his recording with local rock group Glass Harp and the orchestra's first commercial recording, "Home for the Holidays," with the Joe Augustine Quartet.