"Joan is a terrific addition to our artistic staff," says General Manager and Vice President for Artistic Operations Scott Freck. "She brings a wealth of experience and a real passion for making music, and she's a committed and energetic educator of children. I'm sure our audiences are going to love hearing her performances with the orchestra."
In her new post, Landry succeeds Carolyn Kuan who recently accepted the position of assistant conductor for the Seattle Symphony.
"I am delighted that we have been able to secure the services of Joan Landry as assistant conductor for next season," says Music Director Grant Llewellyn. "She is very comfortable in front of the orchestra, showing great command and authority with the repertoire. She comes with enormous experience working with youth and community projects. I look forward to welcoming her to North Carolina."
Landry comes to Raleigh from Honolulu, Hawaii, where she held the post of associate conductor of the Honolulu Symphony for the past three seasons.
A strong advocate for education, Landry designed and conducted education concerts for over 100,000 students on Oahu.
She also initiated a relationship between the Honolulu Symphony and Carnegie Hall's LinkUP! program, bringing free educational materials and concert experiences to over 5,000 students.
Landry has previously held the positions of apprentice conductor with the Oregon Symphony, as well as music director of the Lewis and Clark Symphony Orchestra.
While in Oregon, she conducted subscription and education concerts as well as regional tours of Oregon.
She has also worked with the Bach Festival and the Karlsbad and Marienbad Symphonies in the Czech Republic.
A Massachusetts native, Landry holds a bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. She received her master of Music and Artist Diploma in orchestral conducting from the Hartt School of Music, where she also received the Honors Award of Excellence in Instrumental Conducting.
Her principal teachers include Eiji Oue, Harold Farberman and Murry Sidlin.
Of Kuan's departure to Seattle, Llewellyn says, "I am both delighted and dismayed to see her go. Carolyn stands to make a strong impression on the West Coast. We will miss her in North Carolina where she has been a great success. We wish her well in her travels and musical endeavors and look forward to welcoming her back to North Carolina in the future."
Kuan was appointed to her post as the orchestra's assistant conductor in July 2005. She conducted classical and pops concerts as well as many of the symphony's education concerts and has proved popular with audiences throughout the state. She will conduct two of the orchestra's Summerfest concerts this season at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.
"We hate to see Carolyn go after only a season, but it is for all the right reasons," says North Carolina Symphony president and CEO David Chambless Worters. "Our loss is Seattle's gain; however, it certainly reinforces what we've always known: that the North Carolina Symphony is getting noticed not just here, but across the country. We wish her well. We're very proud of her."
Landry assumes her new position in August.
"I'm thrilled to be asked to join the North Carolina Symphony family, especially in this exciting time in the orchestra's history," she says. "I look forward to helping bring this great music to audiences throughout the state."
