Maestro on the Road

Music Director Robert Moody is in demand in Winston-Salem and beyond

It goes without saying that Winston-Salem is incredibly fortunate to have Robert Moody as our Symphony’s Music Director. Since 2005, “Bob” has reinvigorated the orchestra and chorale, added new series and concerts and lead unforgettable performances with our tremendous orchestra, chorale and world-renowned artists. While he has been busy leading our Symphony, Maestro Moody has also been an in demand conductor with orchestras and festivals throughout the United States. In addition to being Music Director for the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Portland, Maine and the Arizona Musicfest, Maestro Moody has recently guest conducted concerts with the Naples and Louisville Philharmonic Orchestras; the Stamford (CT) and California Symphonies and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston.

This summer Maestro Moody will guest conduct with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (CSO) at the Chautauqua Institution. The Institution is a not-for-profit, 750-acre community on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State, where approximately 7,500 persons are in residence during a nine-week season, and over 170,000 attend one of the many scheduled public events. The 82 year old orchestra is no stranger to the Winston-Salem Symphony. Our recently retired Co-Principal Violist Emile Simonel has performed with the CSO for 45 years and our Principal Flute, Kathy Levy, has been a member of the flute section and Principal Piccolo for the CSO for 35 years. Maestro Moody will lead a concert on Thursday, July 7 featuring Kabalevsky’s Colas Breugnon Overture, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Alexander Gavrylyuk on piano and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.

When Maestro Moody conducts with other orchestras he is building valuable relationships with a variety of world-class guest artists, laying the foundation for their possible appearance here in Winston-Salem. “Whenever I perform with a new guest artist at another orchestra I immediately think of how we can bring them to Winston-Salem so our audiences can experience new, talented musicians they might otherwise miss,” says Robert Moody. Pianist Orion Weiss, violinist Steven Moeckel and hornist Jeff Nelsen have all worked with Maestro Moody in the past and will be joining the Symphony for performances in 2011 and 2012. And for anyone worried about one of these other orchestras luring the Maestro away from Winston-Salem, the Maestro says, “I still have so many exciting things I want to accomplish here in Winston-Salem and guest conducting is an important part of bringing attention to our Symphony and providing me with professional development that I can bring back to my work with our orchestra.”

To keep up with Maestro Moody’s travels, visit his website: www.rammaestro.com. To learn more about the exciting activities of the Chautauqua Institution, visit their website: www.ciweb.org.