DSO Welcomes New Assistant Conductor

Following a nationwide search, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has selected Michelle Merrill, 30, as Assistant Conductor. She will relocate to Detroit from Jacksonville, Fla. where she guest conducts the Jacksonville Symphony, in addition to her role as Assistant Conductor of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Merrill fills the position vacated earlier this year by Teddy Abrams, who has recently begun his inaugural season as Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra. Contracted through the end of the season, Merrill's first appearance onstage with the DSO will be an Education Concert Series performance on Nov. 12.

"Michelle impressed everyone with her musicality," said DSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin. "Both in conducting the orchestra and in the interview phases she exhibited all the qualities that the DSO embraces and will be an outstanding addition to the community."

As Assistant Conductor, Merrill will act as cover conductor for all classical series concerts, as well as conduct DSO's Young People's Family Concerts, Education Concert Series programs, and occasional Pops series programs.

"I am honored and beyond thrilled to be joining the DSO family," said Merrill. "Having the opportunity to work with the extraordinary musicians of the orchestra and world-renowned Music Director Leonard Slatkin is a dream come true. I cannot wait to be a part of making the DSO the most accessible orchestra on the planet, as well as an orchestra committed to bringing culture, art, and creativity to the citizens of metro Detroit and beyond."

Merrill is scheduled to appear on the podium this season on the following dates:

November 12, 2014 - Education Concert Series (Webcast)
Week of January 5, 2015 - In-School Concerts

Week of February 2, 2015 - Project Trio (Education Concert Series, Young Peoples Family Concert)
Week of March 9, 2015 - Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Education Concert Series, Young Peoples Family Concerts)
Week of March 9, 2015 - Natalie MacMaster (Pops)

Week of May 11 - Education Concert Series (Webcast)

Week of May 11 - Midtown Men (Pops )

Distinguished by the Rochester City Newspaper as one of the "up and coming conductors of note," Michelle Merrill has for three seasons guest conducted the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on various concerts throughout the year, in addition to her role as the Assistant Conductor of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. A passionate and dynamic artist, Merrill was awarded the prestigious Ansbacher Conducting Fellowship in 2013 by members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the American Austrian Foundation, which enabled her to be in residence at the world-renowned Salzburg Festival. Merrill made her debut with the Orlando Phlharmonic Orchestra in September 2014, and this past spring stepped in on short notice with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra for their performance of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4, which the Dallas Morning News described as "stunning". Previous praise came from her conducting of Schubert's Symphony No. 5 with the Rochester Philharmonic: "with the natural grace of a prima ballerina, Merrill knows what she wants and how to achieve it. Merrill's conducting took her full body in wide sweeps, making connections, seemingly, with each individual musician. Merrill's phrasing of the Schubert was utterly proper in style and form." A strong advocate of new music, Merrill has worked with Voices of Change (VOC), Dallas's professional, modern contemporary music ensemble. Her collaboration with this group in the 2011/12 season was part of a program later named as one of Dallas Morning News critic Scott Cantrell's top ten performances of 2011. She also traveled with VOC in the summer of 2012 to showcase classical music written by celebrated American Indian musicians at the Chickasaw Chamber Music Festival. Born in Dallas, TX, Merrill studied conducting with Dr. Paul C. Phillips at Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts, where she holds a Master of Music Degree in conducting and a Bachelor of Music in performance.