In Europe, or Australia, or Asia, conductors typically conduct. That’s about the extent of their responsibilities, and it’s how they get the title.
In the United States, however, conductors are often called music directors. In addition to leading the group in rehearsals and concerts, the folks at the front of the orchestra have final say in personnel and programming and handle a multitude of other tasks.
John Farrer, as a U.S. resident with a baton, is a musical director. Not only does he wear a multitude of orchestral hats—talking to reporters (ahem), attending luncheons, and sometimes tagging along on visits if a major donor is being approached for a gift—he wears them thrice over.
Farrer is music director for the Santa Maria Philharmonic, the Bakersfield Symphony, and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra in New Mexico. Add to that triple list of duties his frequent trips to England, where he proves to the British that music directors can still conduct. He also records, tours, advises, and teaches conducting workshops.
The philharmonic’s executive director, George Majoue, handles even more details, from working with the philharmonic board to overseeing finance and PR, to weighing in on graphic design, to maintaining the music library. He touches ticket sales, membership, and marketing.
Majoue, who’s been executive director since October 2007, explained that the local philharmonic began after the Santa Maria Orchestra dissipated in 1999. Charles Boyd soon gathered leaders and funding for a new group. Concertmistress Shirley Lynch helped find and hire Farrer, who’s been with the group since. Majoue compared Farrer to a masseuse who’s been working the kinks out of a body of performers for years. Now, he said, “it’s smooth as silk.”
Maestro Farrer (an honorific he’s certainly earned through sweat alone) has been with the Santa Maria Philharmonic for the last decade. In recent days, he’s been prepping his musicians for the final subscription concert of the 10th anniversary season, a performance featuring the “overture” to Handel’s second opera, Admento; Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major,” with a harpsichord; “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; Barber’s “Adagio for Strings;” and others.
Farrer said that the joy and privilege of his selection duties means he rarely has to conduct anything he doesn’t like. When asked to name some of his favorite composers, he laughed.
“I’m not evading the question,” he began. “I will tell you this is the true answer: I like what I’m conducting at the moment.”
He did admit to a fondness for Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel,
Debussy, and Bartók, the latter of whose music will be played on April 30. Farrer deliberately chose his “Romanian Folk Dances,” based on Transylvanian fiddle tunes, to recall the group’s debut.
Farrer explained that the first concerts happened at First Presbyterian Church, which inspired a bit of spatial improvisation, since the stage had to be extended to accommodate all the musicians. Now, they play at Grace Baptist Church.
The regular venue, however, hasn’t been the only change. Farrer said that the Santa Maria Philharmonic has evolved into a very fine orchestra—though he didn’t intend to discount its early quality work.
Majoue agreed: “It’s amazing to see how the orchestra has grown tremendously—not necessarily in size, but in quality.”
“I’m very proud of the orchestra,” Farrer said. “It’s a great pleasure to work with it. Santa Maria is to be commended for supporting it.”
Such artistic support, he said, reveals much about a community and its values. A commitment to artistic endeavors, which tap into hundreds of years’ worth of effort and creation and set foundations for hundreds more, show an interest in, as Farrer put it, “more than just the transient.”
“One of the aspects of our work that I like to articulate,” he said, “is that on a daily basis, people like me get to deal with the greatest geniuses of all time.”
While we’re on the subject of support and how locals take pride in backing genius-level work, consider this: The philharmonic is facing a $37,000 shortfall. The group pays its players, most of whom come from the Central Coast, from Solvang to Cambria, for every rehearsal and performance.
Majoue would love to be able to afford to put on annual concert versions of operas, which are expensive to produce—bringing in vocalists and their assorted coaches and managers—but are “just awesome.” Something exciting that is happening is an expansion from four to five concerts—without upping the cost of season tickets.
“If people want to be a part of that, we’d love to have them on board with us,” Majoue said.
The new membership drive starts at the end of May. Call the philharmonic office at 925-0412 to give or to find out more information.
From Russia with music
The St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble is a quartet of classically trained singers who hail from St. Petersburg, Russia. The four perform Russian Orthodox sacred music and Russian folk songs. Two concerts by the ensemble are scheduled: a performance May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 877 Francine Lane, Santa Maria (more info: 938-7877). The second concert is May 5 at 7 p.m. at the St. Timothy Antiochian Orthodox Church, 403 North J St., Lompoc (more info: 736-6220).
Master choir
The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale, under the direction of Kathleen Abrams Hacker, presents “A Royal Wedding Celebration.” The first half of the program features British and Scottish love songs, including selections from The Beatles. The second half features music used in the British royal wedding ceremony, including selections from Handel, Clarke, Byrd, Williams, Parry, Mathias, Holst, and Rutter. The concert is April 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc. Admission costs $15, $10 for students. More info: 588-7204 or lvmasterchorale.org.
Celebrate with the Swing Shift Band
The Swing Shift Band celebrates its 20th anniversary as a band with a concert of classic rock favorites on April 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ, 108 Cuyama Lane, Nipomo. More info: 925-3500 or berndoge@hotmail.com.
Country style
The Maverick Saloon features the country music of Sean Wiggins and Lone Goat April 29 at 8:30 p.m. followed by a Late Night DJ at 11:30 p.m. Concert on the deck is at 3 p.m. April 30, a “Tribute to AC/DC with High Voltage,” is at 8:30 p.m., followed by a Late Night DJ at 11:30 p.m., all at the Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Executive Editor Ryan Miller wrote this week’s Local Notes. Calendar Editor Joe Payne contributed and compiled the additional listings. Send items for consideration to jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2011.
