New Associate Conductor: Kevin Fitzgerald
The Jacksonville Symphony Appoints Kevin Fitzgerald as Associate Conductor
Jacksonville, FL: Following an international search, the Jacksonville Symphony is pleased to announce that Kevin Fitzgerald will serve as associate conductor beginning in the 2022/23 season.
“Kevin comes to us with impeccable credentials and a wealth of experience,” said Courtney Lewis, Music Director of the Jacksonville Symphony. “We’re delighted to welcome him to the Symphony family.”
A Rising Young Conductor
Fitzgerald has garnered many accolades, establishing himself among the list of today’s rising young conductors. Fitzgerald had the high honor of serving as one of two conducting fellows at the 2021 Tanglewood Music Center and was a 2020 and 2021 recipient of the prestigious Career Assistance Award from the Sir Georg Solti Foundation, U.S. Fitzgerald was also the sole American selected to participate in the 2018 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Seminar.
Fitzgerald’s other distinguished, nationwide engagements include performances with the North Carolina Symphony and several ensembles at Manhattan School of Music (MSM). Fitzgerald was also the MSM Symphony Orchestra’s preparation conductor for MSM’s April 2019 Centennial Gala Concert in Carnegie Hall. Next season, he’ll perform Messiaen’s “From the Canyons to the Stars” with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh.
“I couldn’t be more ecstatic about joining the esteemed Jacksonville Symphony as their next Associate Conductor,” said Fitzgerald. “Jacksonville has its own truly great orchestra, and I can’t wait to collaborate with the musicians to bring great music to our diverse community.”
“…I deeply believe that every person can fall in love with symphonic music, no matter their background.”
-Kevin Fitzgerald, Associate Conductor beginning in the 2022/23 Season
Previous Positions and Experience
He will arrive at the Jacksonville Symphony coming from his current positions as Assistant Conductor of the Alabama Symphony and Music Director of the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra where he has served since 2018.
A native of Brighton, Michigan, Fitzgerald’s parents worked as a diesel mechanic and a school bus driver. He fell into music by chance through joining his middle school band program. Four years later, he began studying with Ramon Parcells, Principal Trumpet of the Detroit Symphony. At age 16, he began studying conducting and became obsessed.
“Coming from a blue-collar background, if it were not for public school education, I would not be a musician today,” said Fitzgerald. “Therefore, I deeply believe that every person can fall in love with symphonic music, no matter their background. An orchestra is a symbol of collaboration, communication, and cooperation–ideas that desperately need exemplification in our world today.”
Fitzgerald’s debut with the Symphony will be on September 23, 2022, when he conducts the Community Open House performance. He will also conduct for a variety of Pops, Coffee and Symphony in 60 concerts along with a classical performance in the 2023/24 season.
Gonzalo Farias with Kansas City Symphony
As The Jacksonville Symphony announces the start of a new Associate Conductor, the Symphony would like to thank Gonzalo Farias (current Associate Conductor) for his time with the Symphony. Beginning in the 2022/23 season Gonzalo will say goodbye to Jacksonville and begin his role as Associate Conductor with the Kansas City Symphony. To read more about Gonzalo’s new position, visit the Kansas City Symphony’s announcement page. Gonzalo has been a pleasure to have at the Jacksonville Symphony and he will be missed by the community, musicians, and staff. The Symphony wishes him the best on this next step in his career.
Learn More
To learn more about Kevin Fitzgerald, visit his artist page or view the original press release. The Jacksonville Symphony is North Florida’s leading music nonprofit offering live performances at Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and other venues throughout the area. In addition, the Symphony provides music instruction for youth and operates the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. For more information about the Symphony, visit JaxSymphony.org, like them at facebook.com/JaxSymphony; follow them on Instagram @jaxsymphony and on YouTube at JacksonvilleSymphony.