Society narrows search for director

The symphony society received 200 applications.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Symphony Society has narrowed its search for a music director to fewer than 20 applicants.
The new director will succeed Isaiah Jackson, 61, whose contract was not renewed. His last concert will be May 6, which marks the end of the 2005-06 season. Jackson has led the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra for the past 10 seasons.
In addition to directing the orchestra, the music director hires musicians and plans the musical programs, and also must be adept at fund raising and public speaking.
The search
The society announced the opening a year ago and received 200 applications. "It was an overwhelming response," said Patricia Syak, executive director of the society.
An 11-member search committee, consisting of symphony board members and others, combed through the applicants, which proved to be very time-consuming. Richard Keyse, chairman of the symphony board, also chairs the search committee.
"Many sent extensive r & eacute;sum & eacute;s and videos of their work, which the committee watched," said Syak, who said she was "ecstatic" over the quality of the applicants. "They come from all over the world," she said. "It's painful to say no to any of them."
Public input
The search committee will narrow the list down to three or four by late spring. In September, the finalists will be brought to town to conduct what Syak calls "mini-concerts," consisting of one movement of a symphony, in the soon-to-open Ford Family Recital Hall. This will give the public a chance to have input into the selection process.
"The audience at the mini-concerts will have an opportunity to meet and evaluate each candidate," said Syak. "The orchestra belongs to everyone who lives here. It represents the Mahoning Valley. Public involvement is only fitting and proper."
The search committee will present its selection to the symphony board, which gets the final approval, and the new music director should be hired by the end of fall.
A group of guest conductors has been readied for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra's 2006-07 season, which begins in October. The guest conductors were not selected as part of the search process, and are not necessarily candidates for the position, said Syak, although some were part of the initial group of 200 who applied.
About Jackson
Before becoming the YSO's music director, Jackson was with the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic, and before that, a ballet company in England.
He is credited with improving the YSO's musical artistry, and also directed the orchestra in its first commercial recording, said Syak.
Attendance at Young People's Concerts also rose under his leadership.
Jackson grew up in Richmond, Va., where he was a childhood friend of the late tennis superstar Arthur Ashe, who commented on Jackson in his autobiography. Jackson led the orchestra at the dedication ceremony for Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadow, N.Y., several years ago.