Conductor receives national award

Jul 23, 2006

Author: Jim Kershner

Position: Staff writer

Source: Spokesman Review

Morihiko Nakahara, the Spokane Symphony's charismatic associate conductor, has been awarded the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award for the 2006-07 season.

This award was granted to only two associate conductors nationwide, the other being David In-Jae Cho of the San Antonio Symphony.

The award, named in honor of the legendary German conductor, is intended to highlight the importance of associate and assistant conductors to the future development and leadership of orchestras.

It comes with a $7,500 grant to the Spokane Symphony and a $2,500 grant to Nakahara, who can use it for professional development.

Want to see why Nakahara deserves it?

Check out the annual preseason concerts at Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake on Sept. 2, and at Comstock Park on Spokane's South Hill on Labor Day. Nakahara will be sharing conducting duties with Music Director Eckart Preu.

Another kind of director

Meanwhile, the Spokane Symphony has named Randy Fisher as director of education.

This new position "signals the Spokane Symphony's increased commitment to music education programs for both children and adults," according to a symphony spokesman.

Fisher is a professional violist who has recently worked as education director for the Virginia Symphony, the Richmond Symphony and Young Audiences of Virginia.

String Quartet season

In other classical music news, the Spokane String Quartet has announced its 2006-07 season.

The region's premier chamber ensemble will perform a five-concert series. The group consists of Tana Bland, Jeannette Wee-Yang and Helen Byrne. Violinist Kelly Farris is on a leave of absence this season and will be replaced by a series of guest artists.

Here's the schedule:

•Oct. 8: Featuring the Brahms Quartet in A minor, with guest Julie Ayer on violin.

•Dec. 3: Featuring Borodin's Quartet No. 2 in D major, with guest Misha Rosenker on violin.

•Feb. 11: A special concert presented by the Spokane Chamber Music Association, with Kendall Feeney, piano; Rosenker, violin; and John Marshall, cello, in a concert featuring the Ravel Piano Trio.

•April 15: Featuring the U.S. premiere of John Pickard's String Quartet No. 4, with guest Meredith Arksey on violin.

•May 13: Featuring Bruckner's Quintet in F major, with guests Stacy Wetzel on violin and Minor Wetzel on viola (both members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic).

All concerts are at 3 p.m. at The Met. If you act before Aug. 31, you can get season tickets for $68 ($55.25 for seniors, $34 for students). For ticket information, call Janet Napoles at (509) 276-1431.