Aram Demirjian joined the Kansas City Symphony as the new assistant conductor for the 2012-13 season. In this role, Demirjian conducts the Family and Pops Series concerts and other select concerts. "The warmth of the reception that I have received from audiences has just been beyond anything I could imagine," Demirjian says. "I am so appreciative and grateful to you and I am looking forward to the many, many musical experiences that we are going to share in the coming season."
Looking forward, presenting music in a new way
Demirjian says there are many highlights to the upcoming season, but he's "particularly excited" to conduct the new Thursday evening Classics Uncorked series at Helzberg Hall in the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts.
"The idea behind the series is that we are going to be presenting symphonic orchestral music in a slightly new way," Demirjian explains. "It is a low-key, fun experience for both the novice to classical music, and also for people who have been coming to concerts at Helzberg Hall for as long as it has been open."
According to Demirjian, the holiday season makes him "giddy" and he's also anticipating the Symphony's annual Christmas Festival.
"I grew up in Boston where we have a longstanding tradition of Christmas orchestra concerts," Demirjian says. "Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I am looking forward to seeing families come out to the concert hall, joining in celebration with them, and presenting some works that I think will be either new or fresh to the Christmas Festival audience."
Letting the orchestra work
As a young conductor, Demirjian says he's grateful for the opportunity to work with the "world-class" musicians of the Kansas City Symphony.
"It is always imperative to remember when you are standing on that podium that every single person in front of you is an accomplished, intelligent musician who have their own very strong musical instincts," Demirjian says.
"It's a matter of knowing when they need you, when the music needs you and when it is better for the music, and better for everybody, to let this incredibly well-oiled machine, that is the orchestra, work on its own."
