Evansville Philharmonic names new music director

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Philharmonic named Roger Kalia as the new music director, taking the place of Alfred Savia who had been with the EPO for 31 years.

Kalia's announcement came via a virtual press conference Saturday instead of the planned announcement during an EPO concert titled, "The Envelope Please" that has been postponed until next season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I hope you're all safe and healthy and well," Kalia said during the virtual conference. "I am so excited to be the next music director of the Evansville Philharmonic. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I had a truly fantastic time in Evansville ... there was such warmth and we felt so welcomed. The concert was one of the most memorable performances I've ever conducted. It was so much fun, so so joyful."

More:Review: Fifth and final EPO music director candidate impresses

More:Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra announces next season, candidates for music director

More:Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra's Alfred Savia named to role with Indianapolis Opera

He said he's excited to be coming to Evansville as the "community believes in the symphony. I saw so much dedication and passion for the symphony here. We're going to do everything we can to make the EPO as well known as we can in the community and the Tri-State, and I promise I will do everything I can to make that happen."

Kalia is a New York native and has degrees from Indiana University, the University of Houston and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. He currently serves as music director of New Hampshire’s 97-year-old orchestra, Symphony NH (Symphony New Hampshire), of California’s Orchestra Santa Monica and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, as well as music director and co-founder of Lake George Music Festival in upstate New York, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in August.

He'll finish his work with California’s Pacific Symphony in August and begins his stint here June 1.

“I look forward to beginning my tenure with Evansville as it begins its 87th season in a long and storied history of innovation and tradition," Kalia said. "It is a thrill for me to be part of this orchestra's musical legacy, and I look forward to sharing music with the communities throughout the Tri-State area. My wife Christine and I are excited to become part of Evansville’s vibrant arts community.”

He's already begun working.

The opening concert is going to feature a composer close to his heart, Gustav Mahler, Kalia said.

Search Committee Chair Thomas Josenhans said they reviewed more than 200 candidates for the position before narrowing it to five finalists.

"The search committee has been delighted by the quality of all five of our finalists, and we are particularly thrilled that Roger Kalia will take the reins as the next music director of the EPO," he said. "We are confident that the energy and expertise that Mr. Kalia brought to the orchestra and our community during his visit will translate into an exciting new vision for the EPO and its future in Evansville. We are especially grateful to all of those who supported the search process by attending search events and concerts, completing surveys, and sharing their thoughts about our candidates and the EPO."

EPO Board President Mark Powers was a part of the search committee as well.

"... As one of the five finalists who performed during the 2019-2020 season, Mr. Kalia presented not only a stunning level of artistic excellence but also a deeply sensitive degree of emotional competence in the interpretation of each composer’s work. Our audience responded overwhelmingly to his performance.”

In addition to interviews, each of the five finalists auditioned by conducting a classics performance during the last season. 

Kalia's stint was on Leap Day with Kodaly's exotic "Dances of Galanta," inspired by a famous Gypsy band and featured soloist Meng Su. 

This was from Bill Hemminger's review of the performance for the Courier & Press:

Kalia addressed the audience at the beginning of the second half of the program, both to congratulate Evansville for maintaining an orchestra of such high quality and to introduce the Mendelssohn “Scottish” symphony, a personal favorite of the conductor’s. And what a remarkable performance — from the refined elegance of the first movement to the jaunty second movement (with wonderful solo clarinet played by UE faculty member Thomas Josenhans, recently returned from England for this event) to the dramatic third movement and finally to the tumultuous fourth with its triumphant coda in A major. Mendelssohn’s paean to the rugged beauty of that northern nation came alive in this fine performance, with the EPO under the extraordinary leadership of Kalia.

Executive Director Kimberly Bredemeier said they were excited to welcome Kalia as the next music director and conductor.

“We are excited to welcome Roger Kalia as the next Music Director and Conductor of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra," she said. "Roger brings diverse and engaging program ideas. It is clear his enthusiasm and vision will continue to expand the abilities of our talented musicians and serve our Tri-State community.”

Savia announced his retirement in 2018. Last year it was announced he'd been named artistic advisor to the Indianapolis Opera. In his new role with the Indianapolis Opera, Savia conducts at least one production each season, beginning with the company’s 2019 opening opera, Elixir of Love.

Savia's farewell performance of Puccini’s Turandot was rescheduled to 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at The Victory. 

The performance includes a collaboration of orchestra, chorus, UE Opera and multiple soloists. The three-act lyric drama is described as "the exotic tale of three riddles which stand before any suitor wishing to marry Princess Turandot, and one wrong answer means death." Turandot ranks among the top 20 operas in terms of its public presentations worldwide.

“As I considered what would be the finale to my tenure as the Philharmonic’s Music Director, many thoughts spun around which ultimately led to my choice of Puccini’s Turandot," Savia said. "It has been, since I first performed it as a clarinetist in the pit, my favorite opera. The fabled Chinese setting and story together with Puccini’s boldest and most passionate score – the last music he wrote – add up to a lush and exotic work that stimulates the senses like none other.

"With this concert presentation, we highlight the entire orchestra, chorus, University of Evansville Opera and a stellar cast of soloists. Bringing opera to Evansville over the past 30 years is one of the things of which I’m proudest. It is my pleasure and privilege to bring this production of Turandot to the community for my final concert.

Tickets can be purchased after May 1 by calling the Evansville Philharmonic Box Office at 812-425-5050, ext 300 or by ordering online at www.evansvillephilharmonic.org.