By Mark Ambrogi
Janna Hymes has heard wonderful things about Carmel’s Palladium. She’s never been there, but she does know Indy.
“I used to work with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, so I kind of feel like I’m going home,” said Hymes, who served as associate conductor of the ISO several years ago. “It’s an area where I had an incredible experience in the early part of my career.”
Hymes is serving as the guest conductor for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra concert at 7:30 p.m. April 8 at the Palladium. Hymes is the final of three finalists for the CSO to guest conduct. The other two finalists seeking to replace artistic director and conductor David Bowden, whose contract wasn’t renewed, are Ron Spigelman and Kelly Corcoran.
“It’s a great honor for me,” Hymes said of being a finalist.
Hymes said the program she was given is wonderful.
“We have two pieces by Dvorak, the incredible ‘Carnival Overture’ and the piece from the New World Symphony,” Hymes said. “A lot of people will know (that), but the thing about that piece is every time you hear it, it’s fresh and it’s never too many. It’s so beautiful and nostalgic and I’m really looking forward to it. It has all these folk elements. Then we’re doing the incredible Mendelssohn violin concerto.”
Ariel Horowitz, an Indiana native who made her CSO debut in 2014, will return to play that violin concerto.
Hymes has been the musical director of the Williamsburg (Va.) Symphony Orchestra for 13 years and director of Maine Pro Musica Orchestra for nine years.
“As No. 2, it’s different. They were great to me, but I was really in charge of programming,” Hymes said of the Indianapolis Symphony. “I didn’t have artistic control. As a music director, I’ve grown as a musician tremendously, hopefully. It’s nice to be able to work with different orchestras as a director.”
Hymes is eager to work with CSO members.
“I’ve looked at the pictures of the (Palladium) and it looks beautiful,” Hymes said. “It’s a great opportunity to be a finalist, and to work with a new orchestra is always exciting.”
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
