David Itkin
Encyclopedia
David Chester Itkin is an American conductor
and composer
. He served as music director and conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2010. He currently holds multiple appointments. He is music director/conductor of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Las Vegas Philharmonic
, and music director/director of orchestral studies for the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra
.
and orchestra
, and Exodus, an oratorio
. Exodus premiered in April 2005 in Little Rock, with William Shatner
narrating. It was released on CD
in 2007.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra recorded Itkin's first film score in 2006 for the film Sugar Creek
, released in 2007.
of the State of Alabama for outstanding service to the arts. He was conductor of the Birmingham Opera Theatre and the Kingsport [Tennessee] Symphony from 1992 to 1995, music director for the Lucius Woods Festival Concerts in Solon Springs, Wisconsin from 1993 to 2000, and music director of Chicago's
Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2000.
In 1993, Itkin began his 16-year tenure as conductor (and later conductor/music director) of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
He was appointed music director/conductor of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra in 2005, and music director/conductor of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007. In the fall of 2008, Itkin became music director and director of orchestral studies for the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra.
In May 2009, Maestro
Itkin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Lyon College
He has been a guest conductor with more than 40 symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies worldwide, including the San Diego Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Ft. Worth Symphony, the Slovenska Filharmonija, the Seoul Philharmonic, the Shanghai Broadcast Symphony, the Illinois Symphony, the Delaware Symphony, the New Hampshire Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Annapolis Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestras, the Colorado Symphony, and the Reno Chamber Orchestra.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He served as music director and conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2010. He currently holds multiple appointments. He is music director/conductor of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra
The Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra is a symphony orchestra serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It was founded on July 4, 1998 by Harold Weller and Susan and Andrew Tompkins. The current music director and conductor is David Itkin. The orchestra's current venue is Artemus W. Ham Hall on the...
, and music director/director of orchestral studies for the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra
University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra
The University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra was established in 1920s at the University of North Texas College of Music — then known as North Texas State Teachers College School of Music...
.
Composer
As a composer, Itkin's most notable works are Jonah, a tone poem for narratorNarrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, and Exodus, an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
. Exodus premiered in April 2005 in Little Rock, with William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
narrating. It was released on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 2007.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra recorded Itkin's first film score in 2006 for the film Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek (film)
Sugar Creek is a 2007 film. It is a supernatural western thriller, set in 1889 and filmed in Arkansas.-Plot summary:Sugar Creek follows Adam Stanton as he awakes, alone in a field and without his shoes...
, released in 2007.
Conductor
From 1988 to 1993, Itkin served as associate conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, during which time he was made Honorary Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the State of Alabama for outstanding service to the arts. He was conductor of the Birmingham Opera Theatre and the Kingsport [Tennessee] Symphony from 1992 to 1995, music director for the Lucius Woods Festival Concerts in Solon Springs, Wisconsin from 1993 to 2000, and music director of Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2000.
In 1993, Itkin began his 16-year tenure as conductor (and later conductor/music director) of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
He was appointed music director/conductor of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra in 2005, and music director/conductor of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007. In the fall of 2008, Itkin became music director and director of orchestral studies for the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra.
In May 2009, Maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...
Itkin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Lyon College
Lyon College
Lyon College is an independent, residential, co-educational, undergraduate liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Founded in 1872, it is the oldest independent college in Arkansas...
He has been a guest conductor with more than 40 symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies worldwide, including the San Diego Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Ft. Worth Symphony, the Slovenska Filharmonija, the Seoul Philharmonic, the Shanghai Broadcast Symphony, the Illinois Symphony, the Delaware Symphony, the New Hampshire Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Annapolis Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestras, the Colorado Symphony, and the Reno Chamber Orchestra.