Conductor Resigns From PNB
Pacific Northwest Ballet just announced that conductor Stewart Kershaw, who has led the PNB orchestra for 25 seasons, is resigning. Effective immediately. Complete press release after the jump. "PNB will begin conducting a search for Mr. Kershaw's replacement" is all the release says about who's going to conduct the upcoming 40+ Nutcrackers, PNB's main cash cow, which are already beginning to be advertised on TV.
Seattle, WA - In an announcement to the Pacific Northwest Ballet company and orchestra, Music Director/Conductor Stewart Kershaw today tendered his resignation, effective immediately. Mr. Kershaw has been with the company since 1983.
In his announcement, Mr. Kershaw explained that "Please understand that I am now 68, have been a professional ballet conductor for the last 43 years, and recently completed 25 seasons as PNB's Music Director. It is also exactly 20 years since my efforts to create the PNB Orchestra were rewarded in October 1989."
Mr. Kershaw continued by stating "In planning my departure from the ballet world I wanted to make my own personal farewell on a high note with music that has always been so very dear to my heart - what better then than Prokoviev's Romeo & Juliet as my swan song?"
In a personal note to members of the orchestra, Mr. Kershaw added "Your brilliant and incredibly passionate playing of this masterpiece will remain a constant and indelible memory in my mind as I move on to the next chapter in my life. The recent comment in The New York Times that you are 'perhaps best of all' ballet orchestras in the USA, not only made me very proud but amply confirmed my own thoughts on the subject. Bravo!"
Born in Oxford, England, Mr. Kershaw was a chorister at Chichester Cathedral and studied at London's Royal Academy of Music (of which he is a Fellow) and the Conservatoire Nationale in Paris. He was Music Director of Stuttgart Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet, and has held permanent contracts with the Royal Ballet in London as well as at the Opera Houses in Munich and Lyon. He was Principal Conductor for the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Japan, and Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic for nine years. In 1997 Mr. Kershaw was invited to create the Auburn Symphony Orchestra in South King County. He plans to remain as Auburn Symphony's Music Director.
"I was deeply saddened by the news of Stewart Kershaw's choice to resign as our principal conductor and music director," said PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal. "Stewart's contribution to PNB over the past 25 years has been tremendous. It is with great pride that we recognize the consistent brilliance of the PNB Orchestra, knowing that we owe its accomplishment to Stewart's guidance and inspiration. Though he will be missed in the pit, we know that his standard of excellence will continue to benefit PNB far into the future."
PNB will begin conducting a search for Mr. Kershaw's replacement.
1 comment(s)
sandi kurtz says:
Kershaw brought a wealth of knowledge and experience with him when he was recruited by previous directors Francia Russell and Kent Stowell. He'd led orchestras for many of the significant companies at the time, and oversaw the consolidation and enhancement of the ensemble here. He started with what was basically a pick-up group and developed them into a cohesive orchestra. The repertory for most ballet companies is incredibly varied -- alongside the Tschikovsky warhorses and the made-to-order scores by the likes of Minkus that are standard for the big, classical works, the PNB musicians played Bernstein, Bizet, Brahms, Brubeck, Faure, Mahler, Martynov, Ravel, Reich, and Strauss last year. Kershaw brought his credibility to Seattle, and it has expanded to the group he led.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 8 2009 @ 12:55PM