Maestro Neumann will stay as conductor at least four more years

The board of directors is extremely pleased to announce that Michael Neumann will continue as our conductor and music director at least through 2015. The board and Neumann agreed to a four-year contract in December that includes an option to renew for three additional years. 

“We have been so fortunate to have a conductor of Michael’s caliber since the inception of this symphony,” said board president and symphony co-founder Bruce Woodbury. “Michael is the key reason we have been able to attract the quality musicians who play for us.” 

Maestro Neumann has been the symphony’s only conductor, leading every performance since the inaugural symphony in 2004. He is also the music director for the Sacramento Youth Symphony and often invites exceptional students to join the orchestra for individual performances. In addition to conducting, he plans the repertoire and selects the soloists. Most performances feature at least one soloist. 

“I’m extremely happy that this confidence has been shown to me,” Neumann said. “We have all – the board, the musicians, the volunteers and, of course, the audiences – built something together as a team that we can be very proud of.” 

As he works on the program for the 2012-2013 season, he does not foresee major format changes. “We do a lot of beautiful music,” he said. “As long as we are successful, then I think the basic structure will remain the same. I’m very grateful it’s working so well, not just for me but for the players and the audiences. I love what I do. It really doesn’t get much better than that.” 

Three concerts remain in the 2011-2012 season: “Music of the Heart” Feb. 11; “Glorious Beethoven” March 24 and 25; and “Summer Symphony at the Movies” June 2. All performances are at the Three Stages main theater on the Folsom Lake campus. For tickets, call 916-608-6888 or click “Tickets” on this website.