Symphony names Ross to interim post

• By ROBIN MILLER
• Arts writer
• Published: Sep 28, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Ronald D. Ross has been appointed interim executive director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

Ross recently retired as dean of the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts, where he served from 1994 to 2007. Combined with his previous professional music and administrative positions, Ross has a total of 44 years in the music business. The search committee thought these experiences would be helpful in guiding a period of transition to the next permanent executive director.

“It is indeed a pleasure to announce the arrival of the renowned former dean of the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Dr. Ron Ross, to our family of BRSO,” said Bobby Freeman, the symphony’s board chairman. “We look forward to a great new future and know that his leadership will greatly enhance and advance the goals of BRSO.”

BRSO Music Director Timothy Muffitt also extended an enthusiastic welcome: “I am absolutely thrilled that Ron has agreed to help us out in this situation. With the knowledge and experience he brings, he will be a great asset to our organization in many ways. I am looking forward to working with him.”

“I have enormous respect for the wonderful tradition of artistic and cultural leadership that the BRSO has given to this community, state and region for over 60 years,” Ross said. “The current music director, Timothy Muffitt, the board of directors, the symphony staff, and dedicated sponsors, volunteers, and patrons, not only have warranted broad support from our constituencies, they need it in order to maintain the symphony’s ability to fulfill its mission. I look forward to helping solidify the symphony’s reputation and viability in the broader community over the next few months.”

For more information, call (225) 383-0500 or visit http://www.brso.org.

LSU Wind Ensemble to perform
The LSU Wind Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, 529 Convention St.
The Wind Ensemble is conducted by Frank B. Wickes, Carruth Alumni Professor and LSU’s director of bands since 1980.

The Wind Ensemble will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Overture for Winds, Op. 24, Morton Gould’s American Symphonette No. 2, Ingolf Dahl’s Sinfonietta, Gabriel Faure’s Chant Funeraire, Peter Graham’s The Red Machine and Nathan Tanouye’s Kokopelli’s Dance.

Tickets will be available at the door or by visiting http://www.blacktielouisiana.com. Tickets are $6, students; $8, faculty/staff/seniors; $10, adults.

Jazz series begins
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in collaboration with the River City Jazz Coalition presents Eddie Palmieri as the kick-off event for the River City Jazz Masters Series 2008-2009 season at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2.

Palmieri is known as “The Sun of Latin Music,” and his musical career spans more than 50 years as a bandleader of salsa and Latin jazz orchestras. Palmieri has a discography of more than 36 titles and has won nine Grammy Awards.

Upcoming River City Jazz Master Concerts are:

• Nov. 6, Regina Carter
• Feb. 26, 2009, 70th Anniversary Tour of Blue Note Records
• March 26, 2009, Patti Austin

For tickets, call (225) 334-0334 or visit http://www.manshiptheatre.org.

For more information, call (225) 344-8558 or visit http://www.artsbr.org.