Ignat Solzhenitsyn Named Music Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia as Marc Mostovoy Assumes New Role

Pianist and conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn has been named Music Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, commencing with the 2004 - 2005 concert season, it was announced today by William H. Roberts, President of the Chamber Orchestra's Board of Directors. Mr. Solzhenitsyn becomes only the second Music Director in the organization's nearly forty-year history, the position having been held only by its founder, Marc Mostovoy.

Mr. Solzhenitsyn, who has served as the orchestra's Principal Conductor since 1998 and Associate Conductor for four years prior to that, was named to his post Tuesday with the approval of the orchestra's Executive Committee. Mr. Solzhenitsyn's contract extends through the 2006 - 2007 season.

Marc Mostovoy, who has served as the artistic director of the orchestra, guiding its rise to prominence since its founding in 1964, will now serve as senior advisor to the organization.

"We are absolutely delighted, and count ourselves extremely fortunate at this point in the Chamber Orchestra's history, to be able to make a transition of artistic leadership from our beloved Founder and Artistic Director, Marc Mostovoy, to a highly gifted artist of Ignat Solzhenitsyn's maturity, international stature and integrity," said Mr. Roberts. "Through his artistic vision, dedication and tenacity, Marc has established the Chamber Orchestra as one of the finest ensembles of its kind anywhere, and we are truly grateful. Coming as it does after the distinction of being designated as a Kimmel Center Resident Company in 1999 and our move to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as the new home of the Chamber Orchestra, a doubling of the number of subscription concerts we present, the appointment in July 2003 of our wonderful new Executive Director, Robert Elias, we feel that, with this appointment of Ignat Solzhenitsyn as Music Director, the Chamber Orchestra is now particularly well-poised for the next phase of artistic and organizational excellence as well as the continuation of a fine tradition."

Maestro Mostovoy, who has for several seasons been planning this succession, stated, "I can think of no one more qualified and deserving to be Music Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia than my friend and colleague, Ignat Solzhenitsyn. He has been a very important part of our orchestra family for over ten years, serving as assistant, associate and principal conductor. I am truly proud to have been able to play a part in his growth as a conductor and know that he will continue to bring the highest standards of music-making to our great chamber orchestra. Meanwhile, I look forward to intensifying my work in developing innovative approaches to classical music presentation for the audiences of tomorrow."

In accepting the appointment, Maestro Solzhenitsyn said, "I am honored by the Chamber Orchestra Board's confidence in me. The progression of my responsibilities within the organization, as originally conceived by Marc, has seemed very natural. I look forward to a continued close collaboration with our outstanding musicians, talented staff, and superb board. We are united in our aim to strengthen our position as a world-class chamber orchestra, and I am excited about taking on the additional responsibilities of Music Director as we strive toward this goal."

Recognized as one of today's most gifted artists, and enjoying an active career as both conductor and pianist, Ignat Solzhenitsyn's lyrical and poignant interpretations have won him critical acclaim throughout the world. He has appeared with numerous major orchestras, including those of Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Saint Louis, Los Angeles, Montreal, London, Paris, Israel and Sydney, and collaborated with such distinguished conductors as Previn, Blomstedt, Sawallisch, Rostropovich, Schwarz, and Dutoit. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Solzhenitsyn has frequently appeared at international festivals, including Evian, Ludwigsburg, Ojai, Marlboro, and Moscow's famed December Evenings. A winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Ignat has been featured on numerous radio and television specials, most recently CBS Sunday Morning and ABC's Nightline. In the autumn of 2004 Mr. Solzhenitsyn joins the piano faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music, where he will work alongside such noted pedagogues as Leon Fleischer, Claude Frank, Seymour Lipkin, Eleanor Sokoloff and his former teacher, Curtis Institute President/Director Gary Graffman.

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