After an intensive two year search process, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Board of Directors have approved the Search Committee's recommendation to hire Maestro Stilian Kirov as IPO's Music Director, effective June 1, 2017.

The Bulgarian-born Juilliard graduate holds a master's degree in conducting from the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris and currently serves as Music Director for Symphony in C (New Jersey) and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra (California). In addition, Kirov is a recipient of the 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award and is a 2015 Malko Competition prize winner. His previous symphonic appointments include Seattle Symphony (Associate Conductor), Memphis Symphony (Associate Conductor), Memphis Youth Symphony Program (Music Director) and Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Assistant Conductor under Bernard Haitink), among others.

"I am very excited to be joining the Illinois Philharmonic family," Kirov shared. "During my visit in January, I was very impressed with the community support for the orchestra and the warm welcome I was given. The musicians are quite extraordinary, and, most importantly, they care enormously about the future of the IPO. All these aspects are a great base to begin our journey, and I feel that we have no limits on how much we can achieve together."

IPO Artistic Consultant Henry Fogel, who guided IPO through the search process, agreed with Kirov  saying, "The lay people on the Committee quite properly gave a great deal of weight to the views of the musicians, and conversely the musicians showed a very deep interest in the off-the-podium part of the job of a modern music director."

Fogel said that in his work facilitating music director searches for 25 orchestras over the past 10 years, IPO's Search Committee went over and above in their commitment to finding the right conductor.

They "...did an extraordinary amount of work delving into resumes, watching videos, thoroughly sorting through over 175 applications...It was so healthy to see that musicians, staff, and Board members were consistently on the same page," Fogel added.

IPO Board President Timothy Coburn, who co-chaired the Search Committee with IPO Artistic Committee Chairman Dr. Charles Amenta, agreed that the collaborative nature of the search process involving the board, musicians, patrons, and staff provided a solid foundation on which to base a decision.

"It was difficult to narrow it down from 175 applicants, but in the end, we feel that Stilian will provide the leadership we need for the future, both on the podium and in the community," Coburn affirmed.

IPO Executive Director Christina Salerno echoed that assessment, saying, "IPO has found in Maestro Kirov a perfect blend of high artistic standards, dynamic podium skills, and a wide-ranging repertoire - combined with a friendly, approachable demeanor that exudes an infectious passion for classical music. We are absolutely thrilled to have Kirov lead IPO into our 40th Anniversary and beyond."

Kirov was formally approved by the Board and introduced to board members, donors, musicians and staff at a luncheon on May 9, as well as to subscribers at an event scheduled for this evening. He has already begun work on the 2017-18 40th Anniversary Season, selecting the opener for each concert. His first official performance as Music Director for the orchestra will be Opening Night, October 14, 2017, at Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.

Subscriptions are currently on sale for new and renewing subscribers. Single tickets will be available to the public beginning in August.

For more information, visit ipomusic.org or call 708.481.7774.  

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season in 2017-18. From its community orchestra roots in Park Forest, the 60-member orchestra has grown into a critically acclaimed professional regional orchestra.

Under the leadership of Music Director Stilian Kirov and Executive Director Christina Salerno, the mission of IPO is to provide concerts of compelling professional symphonic music, support music education, and expand audience awareness of musical excellence for the diverse communities of the greater Chicago region.

Beginning in the 2017-18 season, IPO will perform six classical concerts at their new single venue, Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. A five concert, small ensemble summer series is held at Ravisloe Country Club on Wednesday nights in June, July and August. In addition, the orchestra performs four educational youth concerts each year, serving over 4,000 students in the Chicago Southland.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra is supported in part by: Bimba Manufacturing, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The Community Foundation of Will County, and Gerhard  Designing and Manufacturing, Inc.

For more information, visit ipomusic.org or call 708.481.7774.

 

ABOUT HENRY FOGEL

One of the best known and most influential performing arts administrators in the United States, Mr. Fogel joined Roosevelt University as Dean of Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2009 after leading the League of American Orchestras from 2003 to 2008, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association from 1985 to 2003, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C. from 1978 to 1981. As Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Mr. Fogel is responsible for the University's highly acclaimed Music and Theatre Conservatories.