Jackson reflects on past, future

The departing symphony music director will conduct his final concert here Saturday.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
As the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra closes its 80th anniversary season, Isaiah Jackson also ends his 10-year engagement as its music director.
He was director designate for the 1995-96 season, and worked along with Maestro David Effron, planning and doing some conducting. In 1996, he took over as music director.
Jackson's contract was not renewed, and the Symphony Society is conducting a search for his replacement.
His final concert is Saturday's Pops performance, titled "Big Band Sounds," with vocalists Lynn Roberts and Michael Maguire and reed player Bill Holcombe.
Looking back
Jackson shared a retrospective look at the accomplishments of the orchestra over the past decade.
"I am very proud and pleased to be part of the growth and improvement of the orchestra as an instrument, and the strengthening of the Symphony Society," he said. "I think this decade will be seen as the Golden Age of the orchestra. Not only did the playing reach a new and higher level of ability and consistency, but all of the series of the orchestra came into their own."
Jackson says that he is most proud of the Masterworks Series and that the orchestra is now performing masterpieces of standard repertoire. He is particularly pleased to extend the ensemble's ability and technique to the classics, Mozart and Beethoven, and French music, which he considers two of his specialties. "The orchestra has shown substantial improvement in these styles," he said.
Another area in which Jackson feels very pleased is the filling of several principal positions. "The principal flute and oboe players are still with the orchestra, and they greatly enhance the quality of the group," he said.
Jackson has also been delighted with the internationally renowned soloists who have performed with the ensemble, particularly violinists with rare and fine instruments. "When a violinist has brought, for instance, a Stradivarius we would invite them to speak to the audience about their instrument."
Pops series
Many people know Jackson as a champion of "nonclassical" music, and his efforts to integrate many musical styles. Naturally, he has enjoyed the success of the Pops series, and its new level of accomplishment. "Though it may sound strange, we have brought a level of 'seriousness' to our Pops series," he said.
"It is easy to dismiss this music as 'lesser,' but I believe it is crucial that we perform the music of our land in as compelling and accomplished way as possible."
But it is not only the subscription series concerts at Powers that Jackson feels have been successful. "The success of the Young People's Concerts have also been a point of pride, with the wonderful help of the Women's Committee," he said. "They organize our programs for school concerts. We do four performances of one program once a year." This year's concerts were performed April 6 and 7.
And there have been many other opportunities for the orchestra to extend itself into the community during Jackson's tenure. "We opened Cafaro Field, [now called Eastwood Field] and played several successive concerts over a period of several years, which included Tchaikovsky's '1812 Overture,' complete with fireworks," he said. "Westminster College in Pennsylvania also regularly played host to us. We collaborated with the Greater Youngstown Community Gospel Choir on several occasions. One Christmas concert was broadcast on a local TV station. We had other occasions to work with choral groups, such as a memorable performance of Bach's 'St. John Passion' with the Youngstown Symphony Chorus. And we were also privileged, on occasion, to take the symphony out into local high schools, churches, and temples." Jackson is also a scholar in residence at YSU.
Perhaps the one dream that recently became reality that Jackson will not be able to personally experience is the new the 600-seat Ford Family Recital Hall next to Powers.
When asked if there were any goals that he wished he had accomplished, Jackson recalled a comment of an auditor that had come to evaluate the symphony as it was improving. "He said, 'If you played together every week, you would sound like the Pittsburgh Symphony,'" Jackson said. "It is my belief that the more a group practices together, the better they become. I wish much success for the association, and hope that they continue their onward and upward movement."
What's next
And as for Jackson's personal plans, he intends to devote much of his energy to education. A resident of Massachusetts, near Boston, he has recently created a course for Harvard University called the Future of Music. But he is also interested in the education of young children, and is looking for innovative ways to create education programs to reach more people. Using the latest technology, Jackson plans to explore the area of video podcasts, creating educational programs that can be downloaded on a computer or iPod.
Jackson will remain music director the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston.