Mischa Santora: Man with a Harmonious Mission
Busy is an understatement to describe Mischa Santora, 41,
music director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Appointed to the position in 2000, he lives
in Minneapolis, Minnesota and commutes nationally to direct various
orchestras. It was a fluke that Mischa
found out about the job at CCO. At the
last minute, one of the finalists in the music director search cancelled. James Edgy, executive director of the CCO at
the time, called Mischa’s manager in New York and suggested Mischa audition. He gave a sample concert, and the rest is
history. Mischa was hired.
Although Mischa has lived in New York working at The Julliard School and conducting the New York Youth Symphony beginning in 1997, he traveled a lot. It was the perfect job for him to have out of conducting school. By 2003, he was appointed associate director of the Minnesota Orchestra, and he moved to that state. But, as he says, “It doesn’t matter where I live.” Now, he is in Cincinnati three to four months a year for concerts and meetings. Mischa counts himself lucky to have found a host family in Hyde Park: Michael and Sally Connelly. (Mike is president and chief executive officer of Catholic Health Partners.) Living in their carriage house, he says “I am very close to them. They are a fantastic family.” In addition, he counts a number of friends in the city as well. “I feel very connected and rooted here.”
Born to Hungarian parents in the Netherlands, Mischa moved with his family of musicians to Switzerland where he began to study violin with his father. After his training at the Hochschule der Kunste in Berlin, he entered the conducting class of Otto-Werner Mueller at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Because of a hand problem, he switched to conducting and graduated with a bachelor’s of music specializing in conducting in 1997. At Curtis, he trained under a tough master, but had the opportunity to conduct every week with a strong faculty. Thus began a blossoming career for the multi-faceted and multi-lingual conductor. Mischa knows English, Swiss German, Hungarian, French and Italian. On a national and international level, he has conducted the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Lucerne Symphonic Orchestra and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.
Now in its 39th season, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra not only has a new music director, but also Thom Mariner as executive director, who began in July 2012. Associated with the organization for three decades, first as a soloist under the direction of founder Paul Nadler, Thom brings a wealth of music and business experience with him. Thom and his wife Elizabeth are owners/publishers of Express Cincinnati, a local arts and philanthropy publication. Thom has served as a music director, teacher and board member. Mischa says he was stunned by all the things Thom has done.
A board of 20 people composes the backbone of the organization with 32 musicians who come from such places as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and the Lexington Philharmonic. Continuing this outreach, the CCO also collaborates with The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cincinnati Ballet and the Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts.
“The CCO audience has traditionally mirrored that of other classical music organizations: predominantly older, Caucasian, economically comfortable, “says Thom. “But we are working to bring classical music to new audiences through our soon-to-be-annual production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” Also, we are launching a new initiative in educational and community outreach to take chamber music performances into the region's neighborhoods. Our June 2 season finale will feature young students from Music for Youth in Cincinnati (MYCincinnati), an intensive, after-school program in East Price Hill. They will play side-by-side with our orchestra members." The “Choice” June concert features several audience-selected pieces by Mozart, Schubert, Wagner, Ravel and Bernstein.
With the program for 2012-2013, Mischa collaborated with the executive director, board and musicians to present an eclectic season. “We are there to serve the community,” he notes, reflecting Thom’s vision. While the CCO often provides traditional baroque and classical programs, Mischa has expanded its reach to offer such pieces as the Queen City Conductors/Composers showcase from the early 20th century. For instance, the CCO presented the world premiere of Cincinnati composer Frank Proto's Saxophone Concerto No. 2, performed by Cincinnatian Rick VanMatre at the latter concert.
In conjunction with CCO’s mission, Mischa looks to broaden its audience base by offering a wide variety of programs, even branching into jazz. For example, to open its 40th season on October 9, Time for Three, “the world’s first classically-trained garage band,” will perform music ranging from Bach to Bluegrass and Kanye West to Kathy Perry, mostly in arrangements of the band’s own creation.
“The programs must tell a story,” says Mischa. “They give a compelling reason for me to talk to the audience before each performance to break down the barriers.” With each concert specialized and targeted, Mischa finds this method sets the CCO apart from other groups. The orchestra will be artistically adaptable to different people, he notes.
To fund this organization, the CCO counts on such donors as ArtsWave and the Ohio Arts Council, among other public and private foundation grantees. Founded in 1974, the organization has continued to grow in stature and recognition. The work of the CCO has not gone unnoticed. In 2009, the organization received the Scripps-Corbett Award for Artistic Excellence. In addition, subscriptions have increased from 130 in 2008 to 175 in 2013.
Engaged to Christy, a part-time journalist and writer at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, the couple has a daughter Lydia born in September 2012. This has changed the dynamics of Mischa’s life. “It’s been a challenging chapter,” he says. “You have to make adjustments in the schedule with the new baby.” As a result, he had to cancel some appearances. Now, he is re-balancing his career between Minnesota and Cincinnati, rather than playing international concerts. “There is a strong presence here,” he says. He has added a few duties in Minnesota, however, such as the interim conductor for the Philharmonic Orchestra of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in the 2013-2014 season. Plans for the summer include marriage in Switzerland.
“I feel fortunate to have the exciting things I am doing. If other things develop, I’ll take them if they feel right,” Mischa concludes. “Things have changed. It’s unsettling. You don’t know where you’re going to be. The entire world is changing because of technology. The opportunities are challenging.”
Mischa Santora leads the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra in its final concert of the 2012-2013 season at 2 p.m. June 2 in Corbett Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Tickets at http://www.ccocincinnati.org/