The Chicago Sinfonietta is searching for a new music director to follow the leadership of Dr. Paul Freeman who established the midsized orchestra 22 years ago.
The Chicago Sinfonietta is searching for a new music director to follow the leadership of Dr. Paul Freeman who established the midsized orchestra 22 years ago.
Freeman spoke to the Defender earlier this month from his home in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. The renowned conductor has been dealing with an illness but said in the interview that he is doing well and is planning to be present for the Sinfonietta’s April 18 ball at the Fairmont hotel, featuring two illustrious pianists, Leon Bates and Jeremy Jordan.
Freeman has made a mark on this city since his debut in Chicago with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in the ‘70s. With his development of the Sinfonietta, it has become one of the most dynamic diverse orchestras in existence.
But Maestro Freeman is not planning to leave the orchestra––completely.
“You know establishing this musical organization is one of my most enormous accomplishments and I expect to remain as music director emeritus. Whenever the new musical director has been selected, I will remain to assist him with developing greater artistic members, more interesting programs (and) developing composers as I am already doing with the Phoenix Foundation,” Freeman told the Defender.
He does not expect the search for his replacement to be an easy one.
“It will be a difficult project finding an individual who will manage to keep the orchestra developing in the many directions in which it is currently growing,” he said.
“As we search for a permanent musical director,” he continued, “we will be searching for a musician with a wide range of experience and therefore will probably use guest conductors during the next several years and many different soloists.”
A native of Richmond, Va., Dr. Freeman has emerged as one of the most prominent conductors on both sides of the Atlantic. It was in 1987 that he established the Sinfonietta utilizing excellent African-American instrumentalists as well.
“After establishing the Sinfonietta and serving as its music director, I worked to promote the orchestra’s ambition of diversity, excellence and innovative programming in the field of classical music,” he said.
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