Kwamé Ryan To Debut As New Music Director Of The Charlotte Symphony In His First Concerts

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will welcome  Kwamé Ryan as its 12th Music Director at his inaugural concerts on Friday, November 22 and  Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at the Belk Theater. The program will feature two  emotionally resonant works: Pēteris Vasks’ Musica Dolorosa and Brahms’ A German Requiem, with soprano Janai Brugger, baritone Alexander Birch Elliott, and the Charlotte Master Chorale.  

Composed in 1991 following the death of Vasks' sister, Musica Dolorosa serves as a personal  lament, both for her and for the Latvian people during a time when the country was still under  Soviet rule and striving for independence. Known for his atmospheric string writing, Vasks  blends somber melodies with lyrical beauty to convey a deep sense of mourning and loss,  reflecting both personal and national grief. In contrast, Brahms’ A German Requiem offers a  unique perspective on death, focusing on the living and offering comfort to the grieving, inspired  by the composer’s own sorrow over the death of his mother. 

The concerts mark a new era for the Charlotte Symphony, as Kwamé Ryan succeeds Christopher  Warren-Green, becoming the 12th Music Director to lead the Orchestra in its 93-year history.  Ryan was appointed to the role in December 2023 and served as the CSO’s Music Director  Designate for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.  

“I am thrilled to begin my journey as the Charlotte Symphony’s Music Director,” said Kwamé  Ryan. “It’s an honor to join this dynamic and progressively agile organization, which values  preservation, innovation, and education while infusing every expression of its goals with passion  and the highest artistic standards. I look forward to spending more time in Charlotte and getting  to know this vibrant community, and I extend a warm invitation to both committed supporters  and the curious to join us on this exciting musical adventure.” 

Kwamé Ryan and Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees will offer a pre-concert talk an  hour before each performance in the mezzanine lobby of the Belk Theater, providing audiences 

with unique insights into the works being performed and Ryan’s approach to the music. The pre concert talks are free and open to all ticket holders.  

For those unable to attend in person, the Saturday performance will be broadcast live on WDAV 89.9 FM and streamed on wdav.org, allowing a wider audience to experience this special  occasion in real time.