64 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2019
Arts&Life
music
A
rie Lipsky, Israeli-born music
director and conductor of
the Ann Arbor Symphony
Orchestra for 19 years, helped plan
the 2019-20 season as health issues
ultimately led him to step away
before the season begins.
“Arie’
s decision to resign was yet
another act of his leadership,” says
Mary Steffek Blaske, symphony
executive director, who has a close
friendship with Lipsky, the 13th per-
son to hold this position.
“It shows his love for his orchestra
and his wanting for us to move for-
ward as an organization. It was Arie’
s
personal challenge to all of us that
we do our ‘
very best for continued
exceptional music-making.’
”
With a national search for a
new music director and conductor
planned over the next two years,
each large concert will spotlight a
guest conductor. The chamber music
series will continue at the Jewish
Community Center of Greater Ann
Arbor with programs scheduled
October-April and featuring main-
stage instrumentalists.
The mainstage season Lipsky
helped plan — the orchestra’
s 91st
— begins Sept. 13 and celebrates
the world of dance as conducted
by Mark Gibson. Pianist Emanuel
Ax will be spotlighted in a pro-
gram that includes “Brahms Piano
Concerto No. 2,” Kodaly’
s “Dances
of Galanta” and the American bal-
let “Appalachian Spring” by Aaron
Copland.
Also scheduled will be a “Made in
America” theme on Oct. 12, works
by Liszt and Tchaikovsky on
Nov. 12 and Holiday Pops on
Dec. 13.
“We owe Arie our sincerest
gratitude for the amazing work
he has done to elevate our sym-
phony to its current highest-ever
quality,” says Richard Hendricks,
symphony board president.
Lipsky, credited with bringing
a range of programs that include
world premieres and featuring
musical legends as well as emerg-
ing artists, expressed his work
and community enthusiasm in
2010 comments printed in the
Jewish News.
“Why does someone whose
parents survived the Holocaust,
was born in Haifa, has a degree
in aeronautical engineering from
the Technion, was a tank com-
mander in the Yom Kippur War,
and plays flute and cello call
Southeastern Michigan home?”
he asked.
“Because of the very talent-
ed people who also call this
amazing corner of the world
home. From our musicians to
our audiences, we all share the
passion and joy of world-class
music in this quality-sensitive
community.”
Lipsky, who started with the
flute at age 6 and the cello at 12,
studied engineering to satisfy his
mother before performing in Israel
and Europe and earning a master’
s
degree in conducting. He immigrat-
ed to America at 25, studied with
acclaimed musicians and went on to
conduct orchestras in Cleveland and
Buffalo before coming to Ann Arbor.
“Arie has been a wonderful friend
and colleague to the musicians,” says
Tim Michling, principal oboist.
“Together, we have worked to
grow the Ann Arbor Symphony
from a community-based ensemble
into an esteemed professional orches-
tra, a valuable educational resource
and a wellspring of cultural capital
and artistic inspiration.”
Ailing Conductor
Arie Lipsky Helped To
Plan New Season
SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
details
For more on
the orchestra’
s
2019-2020 season,
go to a2so.com.
ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor Arie
Lipsky, 2004.
BELOW: Piianist
Emanual Ax will
perform this season.
LISA MARIE MAZZUCCO