A2SO Crowns Steve Gerber as Winner of the Search for Next Celebrity Conductor

By: May. 15, 2015
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The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra announces Steve Gerber as the winner of the 2014-2015 Pursuit of the Podium: The Search for Ann Arbor's Next Celebrity Conductor. The fundraiser spanned the entirety of the A2SO's 2014-2015 season, and raised almost $20,000 for our education and outreach programs.

Steve Gerber competed with nine finalists in the first round of voting, six candidates for the second round and three for the final round of Pursuit of the Podium. He has now

the opportunity to conduct the A2SO at the October 24, 2015 concert. The nine finalists included:

  • ? Geoff Barnes: cardiologist, percussionist, A2SO board member

  • ? Parinya (Joe) Chucherdwatanasak: international and local conductor, flutist,

    Thai cuisine chef

  • ? Deborah Friauff: St. Andrews Music Director and Organist, singer

  • ? Steve Gerber: community volunteer, engineer, substitute teacher

  • ? Eric Lofstrom: musical theater music director, producer

  • ? Frode Maaseidvaag: engineer, inventor, proponent for the Great Lakes

  • ? Rich Sheridan: CEO & chief storyteller of Menlo Innovations

  • ? Jeanice K. Swift: educator, Ann Arbor Public School Superintendent

  • ? Christopher Taylor: Ann Arbor Mayor and vocalist

    Steve Gerber now enjoying retirement, has worked for 45 years as an electrical design engineer, 28 years of which were at Ford Motor Corporation. Gerber received his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering at City College of New York, his Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA at Eastern Michigan University.

    Gerber now is a substitute teacher at Emerson School where his wife Joyce is a teacher as well. Gerber is an active volunteer and usher in Washtenaw County.

Gerber volunteers with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, University Musical Society, University Productions, Purple Rose Theater, and the Michigan Theater. He also volunteers collecting U of M football and basketball tickets, and has done so for over 33 years. Gerber is an active community leader, serving on numerous boards and committees including Performance Network (serving as Vice President), Jewish Family Services (past President), Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County (serving as Vice President & 2015 Campaign Co-chair), and Beth Israel Congregation (serving as Vice President of Finance).

"I appreciate the great variety of cultural and athletic experiences available in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor has so much to offer and Joyce and I try to take advantage of as much as we can." - Steve Gerber

In addition to bringing orchestral music played by local professional musicians to the community, the A2SO plays a very important role in providing music education to area youth, reaching over 25,000 children each year with various programming such as KinderConcerts for toddlers, the Taste of Music program for farmers market attendees and vast school programming from Side-by-Side concerts to themed Youth Concerts.



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