Diane Wittry, Allentown Symphony Orchestra’s music director and conductor for the past 23 seasons, had agreed to extend her contract through 2021, it has been announced.
Symphony board President Mike Tolbert announced the extension in a statement to the board last week.
“We are excited that she will be continuing to bring worldwide, aspiring artists and programs to the Lehigh Valley community,” Tolbert said.
Terms of her contract were not revealed.
Since 2014, Wittry also had been artistic director and conductor of the Ridgewood (N.J.) Symphony, but had left that position and starting in July will be music director and conductor of the Garden State Philharmonic in Toms River, N.J.
Wittry also was director and conductor of the Norwalk (Conn.) Symphony Orchestra 2002-09.
The contract extension would bring Wittry’s tenure with Allentown Symphony to 26 years – just six years short of the symphony’s longest-tenured conductor, Donald Voorhees, who held the job the longest, from 1951-1983. Wittry’s tenure already is second-longest.
In 2015, Wittry was chosen among the Top 30 Professional Musicians by Musical America magazine.
In May, she also was guest conductor for the opening ceremonies for the International Future of Women conference at Sias International University in Xinzheng, China. The conference was attended by over 6,000 people worldwide and served 55 Universities in China.
She is scheduled to be a master conducting teacher at Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute in Whidbey Island, Wash., from July 28-Aug. 5 and was master conducting teacher at the Beyond the Baton International Conducting Workshop from June 4 -8 in Norwalk, Conn. The workshop was based on Wittry has written two books, “Beyond the Baton” and “Baton Basics.”
She’s also slated to be guest conductor for the Creative Arts Music Festival at Wyoming Seminary, July 15-22.
Since joining Allentown Symphony, Wittry has expanded the orchestra to perform throughout the region. Last season the ASO performed a Broadway Music concert at the Levitt Pavilion in Bethlehem, and plans include a performance next spring 2019 at the State Theatre in Easton.
Another new program next season is a featured Chamber Music series with world class chamber music ensembles sponsored by the NB Center for American Automotive History. Wittry is committed to bringing world class talent to Miller Symphony Hall and the Lehigh Valley region.
Highlights from her 2018-19 season with Allentown Symphony include George Li performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto for the opening weekend Concert and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day with guest actor Daniel Roebuck narrating Copland’s Lincoln Portrait from “The Gettysburg Address.”
