Michael Palmer, conductor
Xavier Lynum & Charles Jeong, graduate assistant conductors
with special guest pianist, Edith Kraft
Artist Profiles
Michael Palmer has long been considered one of this country's finest conductors. Mr. Palmer began his career at age 21, when he came to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as assistant conductor at the invitation of Robert Shaw. He was soon made associate conductor, and also founded and was music director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. While in Atlanta, Michael Palmer was honored as one of five of the first conductors in the United States chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts to be Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor, and he was soon in demand with orchestras throughout the country. While continuing in his post in Atlanta, he was appointed guest conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra for a three-year period. He also worked extensively with the National Symphony Orchestra during this period, and he was, subsequently, named co-principal guest conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
After 10 years in Atlanta as associate conductor, Mr. Palmer accepted appointments as music director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra followed by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. In New Haven, he was recognized widely for his artistic accomplishments and for building the Orchestra to one of the finest of its kind in the nation. Carnegie Hall invited Michael Palmer and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to make their New York debut on its distinguished Visiting Orchestra Series in 1994. During his tenure as music director in New Haven, Mr. Palmer founded the American Sinfonietta, which toured Europe for 10 seasons under his leadership, playing to critical acclaim in the major concert halls of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This led to the creation of the Bellingham Festival of Music in 1993. Under his artistic leadership, the Festival has become internationally recognized for its artistry. As the founding Artistic Director, his concerts are heard across the nation on public radio and feature some of the finest orchestral musicians and major guest artists from the United States and abroad. He also maintains an active international guest conducting season each year and most recently, he maintains a working relationship with one of China's premiere orchestras, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
Michael Palmer joined the Georgia State University (GSU) School of Music faculty as Director of Orchestras in August 2004. In 2006, he was honored by GSU and named as the Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies.
In addition to his regular concerts, he remains focused on building a legacy for future arts supporters and lovers of classical music, through his non-profit organization, Anacrusis Productions Ltd. His latest interest is in exploring and developing interdisciplinary arts projects.
This evening's performance is Maestro Palmer's last as Director of Orchestras at GSU. He is retiring from teaching at the end of the current semester in order to devote his time to the several professional conducting projects in which he is engaged. The most recent of these is the reconstitution of the orchestra with which he toured Europe for ten consecutive seasons in the 1990s. The New American Sinfonietta, this is the resident orchestra for the newly founded Hamptons Festival of Music, which had its successful debut season this past September.
Edith Kraft
Edith Kraft, a native of New York, began her musical studies at age three and made her first solo appearance with the Hartt Symphony and the Queens Symphony when she was eight. Ms. Kraft has appeared as guest artist with the Juilliard String Quartet and the New York Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet. She has also performed numerous times at Bargemusic. She is a member of the Buswell Ou Kraft Piano Trio. She tied for first prize in the prestigious Walter W. Naumburg Competition, and received first prize in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Competition. Other honors include the Concert Artist’s Guild Award, and the “Youth Merit Laurel” Award for music from the City of New York, chosen by Maestro Leopold Stokowski. In 1978, she was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” and appeared in “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges”.
As a scholarship student at The Juilliard School, Edith Kraft studied with Edward Steuermann, Rudolf Firkusny, and Ania Dorfmann. She earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Juilliard. She had the honor of playing for Vladimir Horowitz in his home. In 1974, she was appointed Artist-in- Residence at Michigan State University. She was on the Faculty of The Juilliard School for over 30 years
Credits:
Created with images by furtseff - "Symphony Orchestra in the form of a silhouette" • Archivist - "Mozart Cadenza" • Mere - "Romeo and Juliet's Balcony"