The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has ended a four-year nationwide search for a new music director by hiring “beloved son” Jeffrey Robson.
Robson, 41, joined the orchestra in the fall of 2008 as assistant conductor and full-time member of the violin section, making him the orchestra’s eighth music director. He has led the orchestra’s hiatus since former music director and conductor Philip Mann stepped down at the end of the 2018-19 season.
Orchestra officials announced Robson’s hiring Wednesday at a ceremony held on the grounds of the upcoming Stella Boyle Smith Music Center in Heifer Village in Little Rock’s East Village.
He was unanimously selected by the orchestra’s search committee, which consisted of the staff of the orchestra’s board of directors and the orchestra’s musicians.
The orchestra’s CEO, Christina Littlejohn, said in the announcement that the orchestra would begin with a music director in the traditional sense, a music director who makes top-down decisions about the orchestra’s artistic trajectory. I explained that you need to decide if you need it and want it. “And we decided we wanted an inspirational conductor who could communicate with musicians and audiences, who believed in Arkansas and believed in our vision.”
Board Chairman Jan Handley describes Robson as “creative, respected, respected, team player, fundraiser, understanding of the current arts landscape, demonstrating a love of music and education, and a passion for Arkansas.” A person who loves And I love the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. ”
“I’m really excited,” Robson said. “What a burst of energy I feel right now.”
He is committed to continuing to bring the orchestra and community together through relevant and innovative programs. “ASO is inseparable from the communities it serves,” he explained. “This gives us purpose, relevance and visibility.”
The search was suspended for more than 18 months as regular concerts were interrupted or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Robson continued to employ and keep the musicians employed, including a series of online “Bedtime With Bach” videos that caught the orchestra’s national media attention, as well as streaming and eventually a series of short concerts in public spaces. created or assisted in an alternative program to Use smaller ensembles and maintain a safe distance between players.
During the announcement, Robson said of his ability during the pandemic to be “flexible and adaptable to short notice, using all available resources.”
Orchestra musicians, directors and executives alike praised Robson’s leadership during the pandemic and noted Robson’s growth as a conductor during this period.
“I don’t think I would have gotten through Covid-19 without Jeff,” Littlejohn said, calling Robson a “unanimous hometown hero.”
“He’s exactly what we need as a leader. He’s grown a lot and proven himself as a leader well into the future.”
Conductor “Audition”
Robson was also responsible for programming the orchestra’s 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, during which time a series of guest conductors auditioned for what was essentially the position of music director.
Throughout the process, orchestra officials did not reveal which guest conductors were the actual candidates, only that they were the ones the orchestra wanted to meet. The four conductors who competed in the 2021-22 season have been recalled for review in the 2022-23 season.
Ultimately, the commission decided to only consider conductors who had taken the podium twice, said Dennis Compton, head of the inquiry committee. Akiko Fujimoto, music director of the Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra in Seguin, Texas. In addition to Robson, the Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Crust, also participated. Matthew Kramer, who was scheduled to make a second booking with the orchestra in May, withdrew his name from his candidacy and canceled his podium appearance after becoming music director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
According to Compton, the first nominations came from members of the orchestra’s “family”: musicians, directors, patrons, and even more than one. A group of musicians reviewed a list of hundreds of applicants and drafted invitations.
The main consideration of the committee and board was who would best guide the orchestra into the future — “We thought about it a lot,” she said. The orchestra’s plans to build a new music center are also taken into account in this decision.
The final pool went through what Compton described as “a very extensive interview and review process” and described it as “extremely thorough.” All candidates demonstrated “honesty and professionalism”.
“Jeff gave me a lot of energy and creativity,” said Compton. “We could see a lot of positive things about him.”
And the recommendation from the committee to the board was unanimous. “We have great confidence in our decisions,” she said. “The goal was to find the best and most suitable conductor for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.”
Revisiters had the opportunity to meet with social situation officials and patrons, be interviewed by the media, and give pre-concert talks. Mr Compton said he didn’t believe Mr Robson would get any kind of leg lift or special treatment because he was already in place.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “People knew Jeff well and it was obvious, but I don’t think that was a factor.” The search process was “rigorous and consistent across all the conductors we saw.” she added.
The entire committee was pleased with the thoroughness and integrity of the process, and there was no visible pressure to make a decision by a specific deadline, she added. “We decided to keep going until we were satisfied with the fit.
“We look forward to a bright future, an even more positive future.”
Elimination of “foundation work”
From the outset, Robson believed his employment would provide more stability to the artistic plans of the entire organization and the opportunity to spend more time rehearsing with the players. And he “doesn’t have to build a foundation,” unlike conductors who basically start from scratch.
It wasn’t the first time he had a temporary job. During the transition from David Itkin, who was music director from 1993 to 2010, to Mann, who officially took over in the fall of 2010, he spent a considerable amount of time conducting orchestras. He conducts many of the orchestra’s pop concerts and has been on the podium for quite some time. Over the years, he has worked with other community organizations such as Ballet He Arkansas, Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theater, Opera in the Rock, and the Little Rock Chamber Music Society.
He was on the faculty of Central Arkansas University from 2013-2014 and Hendricks College from 2018-2021. He was the conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra for several years.
Robson praised the search committee’s work as “hard work” and said the committee “really admirable effort to see me get the same treatment as the other candidates”. It pointed out. “It was important that it happen,” he said. “It was a dedicated, national and fair search. I think they did a great job.”
Robson said he has no illusions about competing with conductors with a better background.
“I am fully aware of the unique path I have taken,” he said. “It is very unusual for an employee to be appointed as a conductor.” [of an orchestra] results of a national search. ”
He said one of his main goals is to increase the orchestra’s audience through several mechanisms he has employed, such as free neighborhood and community concerts and live and recorded outdoor performances.
“We have a clear priority on growing our audience,” he said. “We need to engage every corner of our community.”
He also seeks to do so through the regular and unusual repertoire, and sometimes particularly relevant repertoire. For example, he is considering returning to orchestral work using regional choirs to perform large-scale choral works. The orchestra did that frequently during Itkin’s tenure, less frequently during Mann’s tenure, and never since Mann left. He considers combining “great works of orchestral canon” with “history’s legacy” and new works. And we will continue to see “some tweaks and experiments with the format of the concert.”
But you won’t see him in the violin section of the orchestra anytime soon. But he’s not going to give up playing entirely.
“I think the violin is essential to conducting,” he says. “And my love for playing chamber music never goes away. It feeds the soul of music.”
5 year contract
Robson will start on a five-year contract. Mr. Littlejohn declined to give details of his career, other than stating that his own salary “matches our budget-sized orchestra.” She said she was unanimously selected, so there was no discussion with other candidates about what she would receive if hired.
The orchestra had a total of six guest conductors, all of whom “the orchestra wanted to meet,” she said. “Some of them were part of the process and some were not.”
One of the main criteria, she said, was how she rehearsed with the orchestra. It was also how they handled the repertoire combinations they encountered: “world premieres, never-before-seen works, showhorses and commissions, and how to work with soloists.”
What she continues to impress about Robson is, “He was very disciplined and very focused on music and his love of music and the love of getting it out to other people. Jeff just and his collaborative and flexible style,” she said. I think that’s what an orchestra needs: love, curiosity, joy, to see what’s possible. ”
The orchestra will continue to have at least one guest conductor each season, a move that began under the Mann administration. “It’s healthy for an orchestra to do that,” says Littlejohn. “Different conductors have different approaches. That brings strength to the podium.”
opinion of musicians
Andrew Irvine shared the position of concertmaster of the orchestra (with Kirill Raskalov) and was a member of the search committee. The online “Bedtime With Bach” excerpt during the pandemic was his brainchild.
He called musicians’ opinions “the heart and soul of the decision-making process.”
He also emphasized Robson’s “14 years of growth leading up to the role. And during the pandemic, everyone needed to grow. We appreciate his leadership.”
Irvine has been with the orchestra for 20 years. He participated as concertmaster in the 2002-03 season.
Robson said the orchestra helped “carve out our artistic future while remaining connected to our artistic past.”
“He has an organizational memory. He knows very well what we are doing in Arkansas and for all of Arkansas. He has already invested heavily in the community.”
He expects Robson to continue performing and teaching in the orchestra’s chamber music program.
“He’s very valuable in this position,” Irvin said. “From all young people who need guidance, to all audiences. He has a great ear and a hand to change it.”
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