It’s always gratifying to hear of a great musician and person who manages to succeed in this tough business. I just learned that my old buddy Adam Flatt (who was a conducting apprentice here in Portland just after I arrived) has been appointed as the artistic director and conductor of the Newport Symphony here on the Oregon coast. Congrats, Adam!
Eugene, Oregon — Apr 14, 2007 — After a two-year national search, which included a season of candidate conductors auditioning with the orchestra, the Newport Symphony Orchestra has hired a new artistic director and conductor. Maestro Adam Flatt of Denver, Colo., will assume the directorship as of May 1.
Flatt’s appointment in Newport is a homecoming of sorts, as he served as a conducting apprentice for two years with the Oregon Symphony. He recently completed a five-year stint as associate conductor of the Colorado Symphony in Denver, where his combination of assured podium presence, musical integrity, and engaging style led the Denver Rocky Mountain News to observe, “[Flatt] shows an obvious love of the music and a confidence on the podium that bodes well for his future.” His ability to connect with diverse audiences was exercised regularly at the CSO, where he conducted on the entire range of Colorado Symphony series including classical subscription concerts, the Pops and family series, community outreach programs, and special gala events such as the annual New Year’s Eve celebration.