The Raleigh Civic Symphony Association, which operates the Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra, has announced a successor to long-time Music Director and Conductor Randolph Foy, who retired last season. The new artistic director is Dr. Peter Askim, who comes to NCSU in Raleigh in August following a seven-year stint as Music Director and Composer-in-Residence at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, in Idyllwild, CA.
His slate is full before he gets here: the schedule includes marriage, on June 1, returning to The Next Festival of Emerging Artists at Music Mountain (formerly the Institute at Music Mountain) in Falls Village, CT, and teaching and conducting at the Point Counterpoint Chamber Music Festival in Brandon, VT.
The RCSA’s announcement reads: “Dr. Askim brings to the orchestras a wealth of experience in orchestral conducting, composition, and performance. With two doctoral degrees – in Composition and Performance – he founded and served as Artistic Director of the Institute at Music Mountain, where he conducted the orchestra and was the principal faculty member. He has also spent nine successful years as Music Director and Composer-in-Residence of the Idyllwild Arts Academy, where his work with student ensembles dramatically raised the visibility of the music program.
“As a composer, he is very interested in continuing to program new compositions and lesser known works by established composers… – much like Dr. Randy Foy.”
The RCSA’s orchestras are part of the essential fabric of our musical community in the Triangle. We look forward to seeing – and hearing – the new directions in which Dr. Askim will lead it.
