FEBRUARY 27 • 2020 | 37 University of Michigan (U-M) for advanced degrees. “I realized conducting allowed me to fulfill my dreams of performance with the greatest possible palette of colors: all those instruments and people working together to bring the most beautiful compositions to life, ” he said. “I also realized I needed the creativity of composing to be fulfilled. ” While a U-M student, Segal learned about the DSO Soundcard program, which offers students one low price for season tickets, and he became a steadfast audience member. When the associate conductor went on maternity leave, Segal was asked to fill in. He became acting assistant conductor and now is back to being on-call. This year, in addition to conducting, he’ s covering 10 other programs and will fill in and assist as needed. Segal recently met Jader Bignamini, the new DSO music director, who has been based in Italy while traveling the world to lead major orchestras. Chosen by committee, Bignamini had filled in for music director laureate Leonard Slatkin to close the 2017-18 season. Last October, Bignamini led a Mahler pro- gram as the search for a new director was in progress and returned in January for more concerts and the announcement. Throughout 2020-21, the new director will lead three classical programs in Detroit. “People have been so glowing about what an incredible week he had last fall and what instant chemistry there was with the orchestra, ” said Segal, who assisted that week. “When he came back, there was a deepening of that chemistry, and that was won- derful to see. ” Segal’ s interest in the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra also began when he was a U-M student attending programs. After music director Arie Lipsky became ill, Segal was asked to conduct. He also has served as assistant conductor of the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic and guest conduct- ed in many other cities. Segal soon will join the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’ s birth as maestro at a Warsaw music festival. “ As a composer and musician, I’ m a Beethoven fan, ” Segal said. “ At the same time, I’ ve wanted to reinterpret what Beethoven could mean today. ” His upcoming album, “Beethoven Reimagined, ” was recorded with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and has three pieces that reimagine Beethoven’ s work. One piece is a symphonic arrangement Segal made from Beethoven’ s only opera, Fidelio, with- out any voices. Another is a violin piano sonata turned into a new symphony. The third, “Beethoven 9 Symphonic Remix” by Gabriel Prokofiev, takes cells from Beethoven’ s work and creates a new suite using contemporary musical styles. Segal and wife, physician Joanna Spencer- Segal, have two young children, and they attend family programs at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor. Segal further expresses religious feeling through an earlier album, “Joy & Sorrow, ” devoted to Jewish themes. “The album has new classical, but klezmer-inspired, music by New York composer David Chesky, ” said Segal, who learned Hebrew from his Israeli-raised dad and Polish from his mom before speaking English. “The music expresses both the happiness and the sadness of what Jewish people have gone through, and the emo- tions go beyond words. ” Jader Bignamini, DSO’ s new musical director details Yaniv Segal will lead “Best of Broadway” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. General ticket prices begin at $35, with student dis- counts. (734) 994-4801. a2so. com. Segal will conduct “Gershwin’ s Magic Key” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, in Orchestra Hall. Tickets start at $20. (313) 576-5111. dso.org. Conducting allowed me to fulfi ll my dreams of performance with the greatest possible palette of colors. — YANIV SEGAL FACING PAGE: Yaniv Segal will conduct in Ann Arbor and Detroit this season. RIGHT: Photos of Segal in action as assis- tant conductor of the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic. CHRISTINE ELZINGA