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In a letter to the board of directors of the Monterey County Symphony Association, Inc., Kate Tamarkin expressed her wish that her contract not continue beyond the 2003-2004 subscription season. Ms. Tamarkin thanked the board members for their enthusiastic support during the past four years and was complimentary about the orchestra, staff, volunteers, and especially the audience. Kate Tamarkin recently accepted a faculty position at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. which will necessitate a relocation from her home in Minnesota this summer. She will be the first, full-time orchestra conductor this institution has appointed. Her duties will include both building its current orchestra and developing a substantial graduate conducting program. Because of the breadth of her new duties and the long commuting distances involved, she decided not to renew her contract as music director after the 2003-2004 season. Ms. Tamarkin looks forward to conducting next season in the rebuilt Sunset Theater-the design of which she greatly influenced. In addition, she provided significant assistance to its fundraising drive as well, participating in several donor events during her time here. She is also very proud of her work on Salinas' Sherwood Hall and its beautiful acoustical shell. Kate Tamarkin commented, "I have greatly enjoyed my association with the Monterey Symphony and have made many friends. My tenure as music director has been a wonderful and enriching experience. I wish you all every success in the coming years." Receiving the news directly from Ms. Tamarkin, Monterey Symphony president Alyce Nunes expressed her regret at losing such a distinguished musician, trusted resource, and valued friend. On behalf of the community, Ms. Nunes thanked Kate Tamarkin for her efforts. "We have a much stronger orchestra now because of Kate. She recruited new members in all sections and appointed chorus director Leroy Kromm who has improved the level of the chorus immensely. We will miss her." Ms. Nunes has asked Association music committee chair Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. to work with the orchestra and board in forming a music director search committee immediately. California-born Kate Tamarkin was named music director of the Monterey County Symphony Association, Inc. by a unanimous vote of the music director search committee in June 1999. Ms. Tamarkin is the 10th individual and the first woman to hold this position in the orchestra's 56-year history. Ms. Tamarkin appeared with the orchestra in November 1998 and received the enthusiastic response of both the orchestra and the audience. Her next appearance with the orchestra took place on Sunday, February 27, 2000--a gala concert organized in her honor. She is currently in her fourth season with the orchestra and has brought about a remarkable number of significant achievements, not the least of which is recruiting the highest quality players available in Northern California. Kate Tamarkin served as the music director of the East Texas Symphony located in Tyler, Texas and the Vermont Symphony having completed her tenure with that ensemble this past May. Upon her departure from Vermont, a fund was established in her name to support the statewide youth programs of the Vermont Symphony. For five years, Kate Tamarkin was the associate conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra working closely with its music director--the late Eduardo Mata. During her tenure with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Tamarkin was selected to lead the orchestra in a special performance celebrating the visit to Texas by Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. For eight years, Kate Tamarkin was the music director of the Fox Valley Symphony located in Menasha, Wisconsin. For the past two years, she served as the visiting director of the orchestra programs at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Additional information on Kate Tamarkin may be viewed at http://www.ktamarkin.com. Born in Newport Beach, California, Kate Tamarkin received a bachelor of music degree, magna cum laude, from Chapman University, Orange, California. In May 1997, Kate Tamarkin received the Alumna of the Year Award from Chapman University. She earned her master's degree in music from Northwestern University and in 1995 was given the School of Music Alumni Merit Award for her achievements in conducting. She earned her doctorate in music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1988 at the annual conference of the American Symphony Orchestra League, Kate Tamarkin was one of three young conductors selected to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the tutelage of Leonard Bernstein, who also appeared on the program. Kate Tamarkin was chosen by the National Women Conductors Initiative, administered by the Women's Philharmonic in San Francisco, to serve on its fifteen-member steering committee. In this capacity, Ms. Tamarkin will help identify and nurture talented young female conductors as well as gain visibility herself, while honing her professional skills. She received a $10,000 personal development grant as part of this honor. Among those serving on the steering committee are Henry Fogel, president, Chicago Symphony; Marin Alsop, music director of the Colorado Symphony and the Cabrillo Music Festival; Gisèle Ben-Dor, music director of the Santa Barbara Symphony; JoAnn Falletta, music director, Buffalo Philharmonic; Robert Fitzpatrick, dean, Curtis Institute of Music; Ellen Highstein, director, Tanglewood Music Center; and Apo Hsu, music director of the Women's Philharmonic and the Springfield (MO) Symphony Orchestra. Considered one of the most versatile conductors in America, Kate Tamarkin has combined innovative ways to engage audiences in the symphonic process. During her tenure at the Vermont Symphony, Ms. Tamarkin expanded its summer touring season, took the orchestra to an unprecedented number of communities throughout the state, presented effective and entertaining education programs, and brought a new standard of musical excellence to the region. She is represented by Herbert Barrett Management, Inc. located in New York City. In her capacity as music director of the Monterey Symphony, Kate Tamarkin oversees all artistic activities of the 75-member orchestra. Kate Tamarkin's experience working in numerous concert halls and performance venues made her an ideal person to advise the committees working on the renovation of Sunset Center, Carmel and the stage improvements at Sherwood Hall, Salinas. In order of their tenure at the Monterey Symphony, the former music directors are: Lorell McCann, Clifford Anderson, Gregory Millar, Earl Bernard Murray, Ronald Ondrejka, John Gosling, Jan DeJong, Haymo Taeuber, and Clark Suttle. [Back] |
