Manchester Music Festival’ s New Executive Director on Manchester, music, and more!
magnet program in middle school, where I worked with an orchestra director who had played under Arturo Toscanini and Dimitri Mitropoulos, legends of the NBC Symphony and the New York Philharmonic, respectively. Learning from someone with that kind of experience at such a young age set me on a musical journey that continues to this day.
What does music and storytelling mean to you personally?
Music and storytelling are about using sound to convey emotions and narratives that words alone can’ t fully express. It’ s a way to tap into the universal human experience, allowing the audience to connect with something beyond the surface. Like a great story in any form, music can evoke feelings, paint vivid images and transport us to different times or places. It’ s an experience that invites reflection and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
How do you and Philip Setzer collaborate creatively? I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable partnership with Phil. Being here year-round, my role is to keep Phil in the loop with the local scene, updating him on any developments while he’ s teaching and performing around the world. In turn, he brings back fresh ideas and inspirations from his experiences, which we weave into the festival. This continuous exchange of ideas allows us to evolve and create something unique and meaningful for festival audiences.
What excites you most about this season’ s programmatic highlights?
I’ m excited about the incredible variety of performances and the talented artists we’ re bringing in. We’ re thrilled to have Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, and Christine Goerke from the Metropolitan Opera. On top of that, we’ re welcoming
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers and Emmy ® Award-Winning actor David Strathairn, which adds such a unique and exciting dynamic to the season. And of course, the chance to experience iconic works like Mendelssohn’ s Octet, Schubert’ s Trout Quintet and Stravinsky’ s The Soldier’ s Tale makes this season one you won’ t want to miss.
How would you describe the magic of Manchester?
Manchester has a calm, welcoming energy that makes you feel right at home, and the mountains create a sense of being tucked away, yet you never feel cut off. The downtown area has a laid-back vibe, but more energy than you would expect from a town of this size, with people enjoying the restaurants, shops, and surroundings. Whether it’ s the stunning views, outdoor activities, starry skies, or tranquil streams, it’ s a place that offers a serene and simple way of living. n
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