The Prince George Symphony Orchestra has severed ties with its conductor Kevin Zakresky.
The PGSO announced Wednesday that when the maestro's contract is up at the end of this season, he would not be rehired.
Zakresky was born and raised in Prince George, went to UBC and Yale on his way to a doctoral degree, and was hired by his hometown orchestra to great fanfare. His public acclaim, the strength of ticket sales, and the open appreciation of the musicians in the ensuing years indicated there was substance to the hype.
The written statement issued by the PGSO board did not specify precise reasons but did suggest financial difficulties were at play.
"Despite excellent patron support, sponsorships, and public funding, the PGSO's continued financial challenges led board members to initiate a new strategic plan," wrote chairperson Teresa Saunders. "It highlights a vision to replace the artistic emphasis on imported musicians with a focus on our own local talent. But change, however positive, does not come without cost - the most significant of which is the departure of Music Director Dr. Kevin Zakresky."
The orchestra has traditionally relied on a professional core of local musicians augmented by professionals flown in from other locations to round out the on-stage needs of each concert. Zakresky, although a Prince George boy through and through, lived in the Lower Mainland where he attends to other jobs in the orchestral and choral music field.
Zakresky confirmed that the cost of travel may have been too much money for the PGSO to invest in any conductor of the foreseeable future, and that was why he was not having his contract renewed. It was not a rift between the parties involved.
"I would have carried on. I wanted to carry on. I was told I could not," he told The Citizen. "I'm looking forward to our next two concerts together and I'm very proud of our recent successes. I will always welcome the chance to guest-conduct in my hometown. I would come back and conduct in Prince George anytime."
"We very much appreciate and acknowledge the hard work, enthusiasm, phenomenal artistry and showmanship of Dr. Zakresky," Saunders said. "He has been a very popular conductor and will be missed. We wish him only the best as he moves forward in what will no doubt be a stellar musical career."
Concertmaster Jos Delgado-Guevara has been appointed as interim music director for the 2015-16 PGSO season. Saunders called him "an experienced conductor and strings expert" who has been a Prince George resident and PGSO performer long enough that he well understands the local audience and musicians.
Zakresky said he wished all at the PGSO the best in their attempts to stabilize the organization's finances and bore no hard feelings other than disappointment.
"My personal feelings are not as important as the well-being of the organization and the health of classical music there, because Prince George deserves the best orchestra it can possibly have," Zakresky said.
The PGSO has posted the strategic plan to its website, www.pgso.com.
