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