MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA APPOINTS ASADOUR SANTOURIAN
TO SERVE IN CONSULTING ROLE AS ARTISTIC ADVISOR
FOR CLASSICAL SEASON PROGRAMMING
Santourian to work closely with Music Director Osmo Vänskä
in developing classical season plans for 2015-16 and beyond
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 8, 2014)—Minnesota Orchestra Interim President and CEO Kevin Smith announced today that Aspen Music Festival Vice President Asadour Santourian has been appointed to a consulting role with the Minnesota Orchestra as its artistic advisor. Charged with developing plans for the Orchestra’s classical season concerts, Santourian has already begun collaborative work with Music Director Osmo Vänskä, musicians and artistic staff to plan the organization’s 2015-16 classical season. Santourian, who is based in Colorado, will retain his position at the Aspen Music Festival and School.
“I am so pleased to have Asadour Santourian join our artistic planning team of musicians and artistic staff,” said Music Director Osmo Vänskä. “He brings a wealth of knowledge in artistic planning from his positions at the Aspen Music Festival and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, where I have enjoyed our collaborations. Asadour also has the added value of knowing this Orchestra’s history and its strengths from his previous tenure here. I value his international artistic planning experience as well as his strong relationships in the field and look forward to working together.”
Santourian previously worked for the Minnesota Orchestra as its Director of Artistic Planning from 1991 to 2000. In his new consulting role as artistic advisor, Santourian will work closely with Music Director Osmo Vänskä, Orchestra musicians and the Orchestra’s artistic staff to develop classical season programming and artistic plans. Santourian will remain Vice President for Artistic Administration and Artistic Advisor at the Aspen Music Festival and School where he has worked with preeminent musicians on seasonal programming and long range planning for 11 years. Having earned seven consecutive ASCAP Awards for creative programming of contemporary music, Santourian is known for his command of the orchestral, operatic, chamber and solo repertoire. He has previously served as Artistic Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gergiev Festival in Rotterdam. He is a regular lecturer with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has served on juries for many international competitions, most recently the Wigmore Hall Song Competition and the Dublin International Piano Competition.
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