A young man named Michael Repper is coming to southern Delaware, bringing with him an impressive amount of experience and talent. Just in time for the symphony’s 2022-23 season kicking off in September. He is only the third music director in their 24-year history.
In addition to his conducting experience, Repper is a talented pianist himself, often performing alongside the orchestras worldwide that he is conducting. He is also a music educator, currently serving as the director of the New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall. There, he recorded several works that topped the Billboard charts in the traditional classical albums category!
The list of his accomplishments goes on, including his recent attainment of his doctor of musical arts at Baltimore’s prestigious Peabody Institute. During that pursuit, he was a conducting fellow, and appeared as guest conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. (His bachelor’s and master’s at Stanford University.)
In a statement from the MSO, board president Jeffrey Parker described an exhaustive search, and had many accolades for his talents and future with southern Delaware and the Eastern shore of Maryland’s only regional, professional orchestra. Venues differ between the various performance: Wye Mills, Easton and Ocean City, MD; its Delaware venues are in both Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.
The 2022-23 season features a menu of three woodwind, holiday brass and piano quintets, plus a jazz orchestra in May 2023. Featured artists of note include:
- Michael McHale, Piano
- Igor Yuelovich, Violin
- Rochelle Bard, Soprano
- Rachel Blaustein, Soprano
- Anna Kelly, Mezzo-Soprano
- Dominique de Willencourt, Cello
- A Concerto Competition Winner (to be announced)
Several arts council throughout Delaware and Maryland partially support MSO, but donor and patron support of local, professional performing arts is always welcomed. The orchestra is a gem within our community. Enjoy!
Pictures from the website: https://midatlanticsymphony.org/our-music-director