Courtesy Image
Music Director Donato Cabrera conducting the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
By John Katsilometes
Monday, April 21, 2014 | 9:20 p.m.
Courtesy Image
Las Vegas Philharmonic Music Director Donato Cabrera.
The Las Vegas Philharmonic can now focus solely on what it does best: perform beautiful music.
The business of finding a permanent host behind it, the Las Vegas symphony orchestra announced today the appointment of Donato Cabrera as its new music director. The current resident conductor of the vaunted San Francisco Symphony will open the 2014-15 season on Sept. 2 at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts with a program spotlighting opera star Deborah Voigt.
“It is with great joy and excited anticipation that we welcome Donato Cabrera to the Las Vegas Philharmonic. As we come to the end of our second full season as a resident company of the Smith Center, this appointment propels us boldly into our future. With Maestro Cabrera, we feel that we have found the right person to lead our musicians and thrill our audiences and to become a prominent figurehead in the burgeoning Las Vegas cultural community,” L.V. Philharmonic President Jeri Crawford said in a statement. “The appointment of Mr. Cabrera to this role was made unanimously by the executive committee of the Board of Trustees following the recommendation from a music director search committee that included significant input from the musicians.”
The 40-year-old Cabrera was formally introduced during an announcement event today at Las Vegas Country Club, but he was hardly an unknown figure. He made his debut with the Phil in January at the “Battle Born, Nevada Proud!” Masterworks Series concert. According to a news release publicizing his appointment, the new music director lived in Las Vegas as a child before his family moved to Reno when he was age 10. He graduated from UNR but has family in Las Vegas.
Cabrera will conduct the Phil’s holiday performances Dec. 6, a Masterworks concert of Mendelssohn and Schumann on March 7, a Pops concert of classics on March 28 and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony to close out the Masterworks Series on April 25, 2015.
Cabrera also has been appointed music director of the California Symphony and the New Hampshire Music Festival, accepting both positions in 2013. He has been the music director of the Green Bay Symphony since 2011. The range of responsibilities is nothing new for a music director of the L.V. Philharmonic. Outgoing director David Itkin lived in Dallas during his five years with the orchestra, and his departure was about as harmonious as a cymbals crash.
Itkin had expressed a desire to depart the orchestra on Memorial Day Weekend 2012, saying he would leave the following year when his contract expired. The Phil’s hierarchy instead negotiated a buyout of that contract. Over the past two seasons, a series of guest conductors (including Cabrera) led the orchestra in a sort of protracted audition process.
With that saga a part of L.V. Phil history, the orchestra is back to selling memberships and focusing on music. The 2014-15 season brochures are being mailed this week, and subscription renewals are now available.
As Crawford said in an email, “It was an elevated moment in the cultural history of this community.”
The Society Inc The Smith Center for the Performing Arts offers a blend of performances by resident companies and touring attractions. The 5-acre cultural campus features three performance spaces, which includes a main performance area with more than 2,000 seats. This downtown cultural center of Las Vegas looks to educate, entertain and excite community members.
OUR MISSION
To provide and preserve a high-quality performing arts center that is embraced by the community and recognized as a vital force by supporting artistic excellence, education and inspiration for all.
OUR GOALS
To entertain, educate, enrich and inspire the southern Nevada community.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
Thanks to the generous support of our dedicated founders, members, donors and community partners, The Smith Center continues to provide a wide variety of services for Southern Nevada residents, including access to world-class performances, inspirational Education and Outreach programs for students and teachers, and a unique space to host events, meetings and special occasions. Celebrating our fifth season, we depend upon public support to fulfill our mission and serve as the Heart of the Arts for many years to come.
With ticket sales covering just 75 percent of our operating budget for each season, the remaining 25 percent comes from the community we serve. Philanthropic support at all levels helps provide programming that entertains, educates, enriches and inspires. By giving to The Smith Center, you play a vital role in providing an important resource for our community.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many opportunities to volunteer and play a direct role with your community's performing arts complex. Volunteers engage with staff and patrons to enhance experiences at The Smith Center, and can serve in various capacities including tour guide/docent, usher, security team member or community ambassador. As important members of The Smith Center team, volunteers help us remain financially sustainable and provide numerous services for the community. Please show your support for The Smith Center's mission by gifting your time and unique skills.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Members' annual support provides crucial resources for The Smith Center's artistic programming, education opportunities and cultural enrichment each year. There are a variety of giving options and levels, and Members receive exclusive benefits and behind-the-scenes opportunities based on their level of support. To learn more, please visit www.thesmithcenter.com/support-us/members.
The Encore Society recognizes those generous donors who have included The Smith Center as a part of their estate plan. Corporate Sponsorship is available to companies to underwrite all, or part, of a program, performance or event.
Fanfare! is The Smith Center's young progressional networking organization, open to anyone with an interest in the performing arts who is between the ages of 21-40. And our Show Dedication allows for the celebration of an individual or special occasion with unique recognition opportunities during a specific performance.
SERVICE AREA
The Smith Center provides world-class performing arts and outreach and education throughout the Southern Nevada region.
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2012.
The organization originally formed in 1996 as the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Myron G. Martin President and CEO Donald D. Snyder Chairman Dr. Keith Boman Vice Chairman Mark Tratos Secretary Michael Yackira Treasurer David Dunn Alan M. Feldman Richard Haddrill Fred Hipwell Nancy Houssels Todd-Avery Lenahan Scott MacTaggart Jerry Nadal John Nelson Richard Plaster Rory Reid Kim Sinatra Roger P. Thomas 4104 Cathedral Falls Ave North Las Vegas,
NV
702-749-2000
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