(AP) NEW ORLEANS — Carlos Miguel Prieto has been in charge of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s musical direction for 17 seasons. This summer, when conductor Matthew Kraemer assumes control, that changes.
The Board of Trustees of the orchestra recently declared that Kramer will take over in July and officially introduce himself to music enthusiasts in the middle of September.
The appointment was described by Kraemer as a “opportunity of a lifetime.”
“I am overjoyed. I’m really eager to move. The arrival of summer is urgently needed, he told The Associated Press. He said he was “grateful for the LPO’s trust” and hailed the Louisiana Philharmonic as “part of the cultural fabric of New Orleans and Louisiana.”
After the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra failed due to debt in 1991, a musician-owned cooperative known as the Louisiana Philharmonic was founded. It calls itself the oldest full-time musician-governed and cooperatively run orchestra in the country.
The group has been looking for “a leader to take our gifted musicians to new artistic heights and firmly plant roots in our magnificent city, and we found just that person in Matthew,” according to Dr. Bernard Jaffe, the board president.
Kraemer, an Indiana native, was chosen as the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s primary conductor and music director in 2015. He also held the positions of artistic director of Orchestra Indiana and music director of the Butler County Symphony in Pennsylvania. He also frequently works with Broadway actress Idina Menzel and has conducted many of her performances in the United States.
In terms of conduct, Kraemer described himself as “collaborative.” “I feel at ease working with musicians. I favor using rehearsal time intelligently and being effective. He stated that in order to create a setting where the musicians “feel they can play their best,” a great deal of planning should be done beforehand.
Jaffe praised him for having “all the attributes of a contemporary music director,” including “exquisite musical intellect and interpretive skills, extensive organizational leadership experience.”
Kraemer pointed out that the Louisiana Philharmonic was very successful at promoting the orchestra under Prieto’s direction and has had a long-lasting effect on both the orchestra and the community.
He stated, “I look forward to continue the excellent work that has been done as well as investigating new partnerships. As we work toward what the orchestra will look like in the twenty-first century, the options are endless.
He stated that orchestras no longer play just classical music. Anything, from rock to opera and beyond, is included. He claimed that the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Big Freedia, and Tank and the Bangas have all received praise from the Louisiana Philharmonic in recent years. Although it is a 400-year-old art form, he claimed that it is still very relevant today. The “Star Wars” theme frequently coexists with the more common Mozart or Beethoven works.
Kraemer expressed excitement about “creating a greater mark on youngsters in the community” in his capacity as director.
I truly want to get instruments into their hands and demonstrate to them the value of such learning, he said. “They learn willpower, tenacity, and how to collaborate to produce something amazing through music. What music can achieve is amazing. It teaches kids lessons about life and demonstrates the value of hard effort and commitment to a cause.
The opportunity to lead the Louisiana Philharmonic, according to Kraemer, was one he couldn’t pass up.
With this orchestra, he continued, “the challenge and the creative possibilities are all there.” “And I find the city to be utterly intriguing. We like change, and my family and I are eager to learn more about the history and culture of the new city.
