Philharmonic welcomes associate conductor
Dr. Scott MacPherson is the first person to hold the newly created position of associate conductor.
Thanks to the dedication of musicians heading up the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, music will continue without pause from the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
New Associate Conductor Dr. Scott MacPherson is prepared to continue his work as choral conductor but will also fill in gaps in the conducting schedule of Dr. Jungho Kim, who will commute between Ohio and North Carolina.
“When Dr. Kim became conductor of the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra last year,” said MacPherson, who retired from Kent State main campus earlier this year, “I was assigned to serve as a sort of mentor during that process and ease things for him. We became good friends.”
Soon after taking up his duties with the baton, Kim planned a move to the University of North Carolina to take up a position there, the largest school of music in that state. “He’s a very conscientious man,” said MacPherson, “and was very concerned about leaving the Tuscarawas Philharmonic behind. And we were all saddened by the prospect of his leaving, certainly. He and I worked together on graduate programs as well as conducting. We worked together very well.” MacPherson helped to prepare the organization’s holiday concert for 2022, further solidifying the good working relationship between the two men.
“Of course,” MacPherson said, “many conductors have duties with multiple orchestras or choral groups, and not necessarily in the same geographical area. They simply commute. I suggested to him that might be possible. But on checking the two schedules, there were conflicts that would be a problem in making that happen. So one day I made the casual suggestion that I could fill in on those concerts on the schedule that he could not attend. We spoke with Philharmonic Director Clare Cannizzaro, who loved the idea. No one wanted to lose Jungho Kim, and we would be spared the process of searching for a new conductor.” MacPherson is the first person to hold the newly created position of associate conductor.
Though he retired from Kent State main campus this year, in the coming weeks McPherson will have many tasks. “I will conduct the holiday concert this year, and in the weeks leading up to our concerts, I will help fill in for the many nights of rehearsals,” he said.
MacPherson began with an undergraduate degree in instrumental music instruction, already having a desire to conduct. He then secured a masters in orchestral conducting from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
He began playing trumpet as a young musician, but once he took up choral music, the brass was laid aside. He has focused on vocal music since, spending 44 years teaching, 40 of them at the university level. He also conducts and is an instructor of opera, musical theater and operettas. He founded the Cleveland Chamber Choir in 2013, and then was associated with the BlueWater Chamber Choir.
Though he lives in Kent, MacPherson is happy to continue his work in Tuscarawas County. “Everyone here is tremendously supportive. Our concert at Tuscora Park was well attended even though it was a scorching hot Sunday. I really have to applaud the community here for its support of the arts. The quality of the chorus and orchestra here is that of a much bigger city. It’s amazing that they’re able to do things at this level. I’m happy to be filling this role.”
Still, retirement is to be enjoyed. MacPherson said his status didn’t really hit him until a recent trip to Europe with his family. “I got a message from former colleagues who were in a long planning meeting, and all I could do was send back a picture toasting them from the beautiful London restaurant I was enjoying. Retirement is nice.”
Learn about the current season at tuscarawasphilharmonic.org.