Lawrence J. Fried Selected as Executive Director of Albany Symphony

By: May. 09, 2014
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After an extensive search, the Albany Symphony board of directors has appointed Lawrence J. Fried to the position of executive director of the organization. Fried, who most recently headed up an opera company in Houston, has over 20 years of experience and proven results in the field of arts management.

Albany Symphony Board Chair Marisa Eisemann said, "We are very excited to have Larry lead our team. Both his business experience and musical knowledge will be a valuable asset to our organization. We believe he will do incredible work implementing the board's vision and we look forward to a strong partnership for many years to come."

Most recently, Fried served as executive director of Opera in the Heights, Houston's second largest opera company, where he was responsible for all audience development, fundraising, education and community relations activities. Opera in the Heights was voted "Most Improved Company" by the Houston Press Theater Awards.

Fried said, " I am excited about the future of the Albany Symphony. My goal is to engage every segment of our community in different ways to enjoy all that our organization has to offer. It's always a challenge to strike a balance between artistic plans and fiscal realities. However, my past experiences have shown that, with careful planning, an orchestra can grow artistically and do exciting things, while operating in a fiscally responsible manner."

Albany Symphony Music Director David Alan Miller said, "Larry is an extraordinarily gifted arts leader. He brings a great wealth of experience to the Albany Symphony, as well as a deep knowledge of the field and a passion for the art form. As a former professional percussionist, he fully understands and values the unique artistic vision of our orchestra, and, I believe, will help us move forward in meaningful and effective ways."

Prior to his role in Houston, Fried spent five years as executive director of the Bellevue (WA) Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his leadership, the Philharmonic's subscription audience increased 121 percent and overall contributions increased by 46 percent. Seattle Weekly named the Bellevue Philharmonic "Best Classical Music Success Story." Prior to Bellevue, he was general manager and artistic administrator of the San Antonio Symphony, in charge of programming and producing all classical, pops and education concerts and assisting with an international music director search. During his tenure, the San Antonio Symphony received the "Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming" from the American Symphony Orchestra League.

Fried has also served as orchestra manager and artistic administrator of The Little Orchestra Society of New York; executive director of the New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony; executive director of the West End Symphony/Music Outreach Education Project; director of marketing and public relations for the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and was a consultant in marketing and public relations for the New York City Department of Business Services, creating a major cultural tourism campaign involving over one hundred arts, cultural and historical organizations in five Lower Manhattan neighborhoods.

Active as a teacher and guest speaker, Fried was program coordinator and adjunct lecturer for New York University's Certificate Program in Fundraising and Nonprofit Management and has also taught at the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. He served on the national board of directors of the Conductors Guild and has written and lectured on arts and nonprofit management issues for many organizations. He was also a contributor to the New Grove Dictionary of American Music, 1st edition.

Prior to entering the field of arts management, he was a professional musician, performing in a variety of musical genres. As a percussionist, he participated in the premieres of over one hundred and fifty solo and chamber works, including several composed for him.

Mr. Fried holds a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree in performance and musicology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and did doctoral research in musicology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

The Albany Symphony, one of the Capital Region's most revered music and cultural institutions, is known for its brilliant live performances, adventurous programming (which has won it more ASCAP awards for new music than any other American orchestra) and recording projects, innovative educational initiatives and engaging cultural events. David Alan Miller, regarded as one of the leading champions and interpreters of new American music of his generation, has led the orchestra as Music Director since 1992. The Albany Symphony's season, which spans nine weekends between the months of September through May, includes symphonic standards, new music, pops, holiday and family programming. The trailblazing American Music Festival caps each season with a full week of dynamic new works by living composers presented through readings, recitals and a full orchestra performance. As the only professional orchestra based in the Capital Region, the Albany Symphony enriches a broad and diverse community and engages more than 150,000 people each year throughout the area. For more information, visit albanysymphony.com.

Grammy Award-winning conductor David Alan Miller has established a reputation as one of the leading American conductors of his generation. Music Director of the Albany Symphony since 1992, Mr. Miller has proven himself a creative and compelling orchestra builder. Through exploration of unusual repertoire, educational programming, community outreach and recording initiatives, he has reaffirmed the Albany Symphony's reputation as the nation's leading champion of American symphonic music and one of its most innovative orchestras. He and the orchestra have twice appeared at "Spring For Music," an annual festival of America's most creative orchestras at New York City's Carnegie Hall. Other accolades include Columbia University's 2003 Ditson Conductor's Award, the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, the 2001 ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming and, in 1999, ASCAP's first-ever Leonard Bernstein Award for Outstanding Educational Programming.

Frequently in demand as a guest conductor, Mr. Miller has worked with most of America's major orchestras, including the orchestras of Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco, as well as the New World Symphony, the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition, he has appeared frequently throughout Europe, Australia and the Far East as guest conductor.

Mr. Miller received his Grammy Award in January, 2014 for his Naxos recording of John Corigliano's "Conjurer," with the Albany Symphony and Dame Evelyn Glennie. His extensive discography also includes recordings of the works of Todd Levin with the London Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon, as well as music by Michael Daugherty, Kamran Ince, and Michael Torke for London/Decca, and of Luis Tinoco for Naxos. His recordings with the Albany Symphony include discs devoted to the music of John Harbison, Roy Harris, Morton Gould, Don Gillis, Peter Mennin, and Vincent Persichetti on the Albany Records label.

A native of Los Angeles, David Alan Miller holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School.

Prior to his appointment in Albany, Mr. Miller was Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. From 1982 to 1988, he was Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony, earning considerable acclaim for his work with that ensemble. Mr. Miller lives with his wife and three children in Slingerlands, New York.



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