Second Finalist to Debut at Missoula Symphony and Chorale

The second of five candidates to be the new conductor and Music Director for the Missoula Symphony and Chorale will meet the Missoula audiences this weekend.

Executive Director of the Missoula Symphony Association Jo May Salonen, said Steven Smith will bring his talents to the second masterworks concert of the season on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Dennison Theater on the UM campus.

“Most recently Steven Smith completed a ten year tenure with the Richmond Symphony, and he’s also been with the Cleveland Symphony, the Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus and early on also worked in Colorado, as well,” said Salonen. “He is not only a great conductor, but he is a composer as well, so it provides a different perspective when he’s at the podium.”

Salonen said Smith has been in Missoula for the past two weeks (yes, even through the recent blizzard) and has been very busy getting to know the Missoula music and cultural community.

“We all remember Darko Butorac at the coffee shops, and he would be at events,” she said. “We very much want our next conductor to be an important part of the Missoula community. Most importantly, we want them to work with youth. We want them to be in the schools. Steven did work with Big Sky High School students this week and the Missoula Youth Symphony and we think that’s paramount.”

He will conduct the Orchestra & Chorale as they perform a selection of American folk songs by Copland and dances from Borodin. Brahm’s Symphony No. 2 along with a carnival overture from Beriloz, will round out the program.

The performances are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the Dennison Theater.

Tickets are available here.

Upcoming Finalist Performances

Steven Smith: November 2 – 3, 2019

Paul McShee: February 1 – 2, 2020

Scott Seaton: February 29 – March 1, 2020

Zoe Zeniodi: April 18 – 19, 2020