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Classical Music Shocker: California Symphony's Conductor Barry Jekowsky is Out
The professional Walnut Creek-based orchestra's board terminated the contract of music director Jekowsky, who helped establish the symphony 24 years ago.
Barry Jekowsky, the founder and music director of Walnut Creek's esteemed California Symphony, will not be at the podium for the 24th-season opener at the Lesher Center on Oct. 3.
The symphony and Jekowsky "are going their separate ways," according to symphony board President Mike Soza, who confirmed Wednesday to the Contra Costa Times that the symphony had decided to terminate Jekowsky's contract.
The Times said the decision was a financial one but Soza wouldn't comment, saying only that it was a "board decision."
Jekowsky, could not be reached for comment. Board member Helen Allen, a Concord City Council member who was not at the board meeting, voiced strong disagreement with the decision.
"He has been so cooperative and so professional and so good," she told the Times. "I just don't understand why he was let go."
The symphony boasts on its website that Jekowsky is known as one of America's "most innovative" conductors. Jekowsky, who also served as music director for the Reno Philharmonic for 10 years, founded the California Symphony's Young American Composer-in-Residence Program in 1991 to nurture gifted new voices and began presenting young musicians in their professional U.S. concert debuts.
The California Symphony's 2010-11 season opening concert Oct. 3 will take place as planned with Asher Raboy of the Napa Valley Symphony at the podium.
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Ellen
11:45 pm on Wednesday, September 22, 2010
CORRECTION: THERE IS NO CONCERT ON OCTOBER 5TH
Francine Burge
10:09 am on Thursday, September 23, 2010
Correction: Barry Jekowsky retired from the Reno Philharmonic in 2008.
The quote: "Jekowsky has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the symphonic experience, drawing wider audiences through his innovative programming," the Reno Philharmonic website says. Is not from the Reno Philharmonic's website, but rather http://www.barryjekowsky.com/
The music director of the Reno Philharmonic is Laura Jackson, who was appointed in March 2009, after a two year search. http://www.renophil.com/meetthephil/conductors.html
Martha Ross
6:46 am on Friday, September 24, 2010
Dear Ellen and Francine,
Thanks for the information about the Reno Philharmonic and the California Symphony NOT having its Tuesday night concert. I made the changes in the stories.
Francine Burge
5:06 pm on Friday, September 24, 2010
Ellen,
Not to be a stickler, but you've neglected to update a portion of your article. The quote listed above in my comment also is incorrectly attributed to our website, it is from BarryJekowsky.com.
Thank you.
Francine
Martha Ross
5:14 pm on Friday, September 24, 2010
Hi Francine,
No problem being "a stickler." Thanks for the reminder.
Ricky Lacina (Ms)
7:49 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wait a second!!! The "symphony...decided to terminate Jekowsky's contract." Wasn't it a bare majority of the Board that terminated Barry's so-called contract, and in secret at that? As we used to say, "Dirty pool." How's it workin' out for yuh? Ricky Lacina (Ms)