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Andrew Crust, MMus'12, hired as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony

Published: 27 June 2017

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra recently announced the appointment of Andrew Crust, MMus'12, as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony.

Crust will serve as cover conductor to Music Director Robert Moody and MSO guest conductors. He will also conduct a large number of MSO concerts, including a debut on the “Classic Accents” series in May, 2018. Other concerts will include performances on the MSO Pops Series, concerts at Levitt Shell, Youth concerts, Ballet, Leading From Every Chair®, and many education concerts. He will also serve as Conductor for the Memphis Youth Orchestra, conducting the top high school orchestra of MYS. He will lead program/concert planning, weekly youth symphony rehearsals, recruitment and auditions, and guide the future vision for MYS. He will also conduct the very important String Orchestra, the MYS ensemble dedicated to beginning string players, and will work with administration and board in the oversight of the entire program.

“I couldn’t be happier than I am, to welcome Andrew to our Memphis team!” said Robert Moody. “I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Andrew for over a year now, and have seen first-hand his great artistic successes, as well as the strong positive impact he can have on a community. This is a key part of a great new chapter for MSO and MYS!”

Of his appointment, Andrew Crust said: “I am absolutely thrilled to move to Memphis, get to know the orchestra and community, and continue my work with Robert Moody. Both the MSO and MYS have such a strong history of high-caliber music making and important community outreach - - I couldn’t be happier to be joining a team which does such important work!”

Crust will play a key role in community engagement, working especially to connect millennials and young people to the power of live orchestral music.

Andrew Crust transitions to Memphis form the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra with a move to Memphis in August of 2017. He will maintain his Assistant Conductor title with the Portland Symphony until the end of the 2017/2018 season, conducting a number of key concerts with that orchestra. Mr. Crust achieved his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Wichita State University, and Master’s Degree from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, where he studies with Alexis Hauser. In addition to the Portland Symphony Orchestra, he has served as cover conductor for the Kansas City Symphony, Music Director of the Colorado-Boulder Campus Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. In July 2017 he serves as Assistant Conductor for the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the USA at Carnegie Hall.

 

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