COLUMBUS, Ind. — It seems fitting that Timothy Verville took a phone call as he drove just outside Music City as he drove to Columbus recently. For such a young orchestral conductor, Verville’s life has been filled with a musical passion, including guest conducting stints in such far-flung locales as Japan, Panama and Russia.
His experience also includes currently serving as music director and conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra in Marietta, with a population slightly larger than Columbus and an orchestra slightly smaller than the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.
Verville, in his early 40s, will be the second candidate to take the Philharmonic baton for its 7:30 p.m. Saturday concert in the ensemble’s continuing season labeled as Maestro — all to find a replacement for David Bowden. Bowden retired as artistic director in July after leading the Philharmonic for all its 35 years.
“I still think orchestral music still needs to be a lot more approachable,” Verville said, sounding a bit like Bowden, who highlighted everything from Alan Hovhaness’ whale music to a Beatles tribute band. “We need to continue to find ways to show and remind people that it’s more than something you hear in an elevator or in a department store.”
Verville will aim to do that with a program he has labeled “Made In America” that features Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” by Antonín Dvořák. Verville, who seems to have a gift for musical history and also making composers real to today’s audiences, mentioned that the Czech-born Dvořák was not all that different than most visitors when, in 1892, he came to America, since he was so excited to see Niagara Falls — and be inspired to compose about it.
“Things like that give us a story to tell,” he said, emphasizing that orchestral concerts can be well-rounded experiences. “And I believe that, with music, you have to bring audiences along with a story.”
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
