Our community dialogue piece continues with new faces and opinions of the Chicago Arts Community and YOU.

Who will be the highest regarded conductors? Soloists?

Stephen Burns, Artistic DirectorFulcrum Point New Music Project
Those with genuinely powerful interpretations and authentic presence.


Dileep Gangoll, Clarinet, Chicago Sinfonietta
The conductor who seems to be capturing the attention of all constituencies (audience, board, musicians, media) is Dudamel.  And that is exactly the model needed for other aspiring conductors because Dudamel is entertaining, brings new vitality to the art form, but has not compromised artistic standards or the idiom. 

Soloists who can successfully cross over and collaborate with other stars in other musical genres will certainly thrive over soloists who stay firmly in the Classical genre.  With the importance of media and the ease and availability of communication across borders, it soloists now have the opportunity to capture attention without having to rely so heavily on management.

I believe that in the next ten years, there will be many soloists who come to the fore through their own self-marketing efforts and by tapping into audiences through social media, self-produced videos and downloads, and reality-type shows such as American Idol.

Classical artists will learn how to self-market by watching successful pop and indie rock groups.


Jim Hirsch, Executive Director, Chicago Sinfonietta
Dudamel has the buzz, the looks, and the energy, but does he have staying power?  I believe that one of the many talented women conductors who are making their mark right now will emerge to become a leading light of the conducting world.  As for soloists, I’m hoping we see some of the extremely talented minority musicians become ticket selling mainstays.  Too many to list.  Jim Hirsch


Carolyn Paulin, Producer, Program Host, 98.7 WFMT
Most highly regarded by whom?  The audiences?  The orchestras and other ensembles?  The managers?  The agendas and needs of these groups may be different and require differing interpretations of what they are looking for in an inspiring conductor (particularly) or soloist.  Marketing a conductor in an “American Idol” way may be effective for some, but going that route for all classical musicians could be a slippery slope towards finding only the entertaining leaders without (perhaps) the skills and intellect that really is required for great music making.  Lots of great soloists out there from diverse backgrounds - Anthony McGill and Gabriela Montero, Daniel de Niese and Nicole Cabell spring to mind. 


Allan Dennis, Director, Midwest Young Artists
Those that relate to their constituencies.