YOUNGSTOWN – Five guest conductors who will lead the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in 2021-2022 will be considered to replace Randall Craig Fleischer as musical director.

Fleischer was Music Director and Conductor of YSO from 2006 until his unexpected death in August 2020 at the age of 61.

Chris Jaskiewicz, vice-chairman of the board of the Youngstown Symphony Society, said: “We’re trying to see who is the best match, to see if they line up with the orchestra and what we’re trying to do with it. the Youngstown Symphony. ”

The five guest conductors aren’t the only candidates being considered, but they are on the list, Jaskiewicz said.

The 2021-22 season will feature eight concerts at three venues – the Powers Auditorium and Ford Family Recital Hall at DeYor Performing Arts Center as well as the Stambaugh Auditorium. In December, the board laid off the administrative staff at DeYor and entered into a management agreement with staff at Stambaugh to operate the downtown Youngstown theater complex.

Miriam Burns, visiting professor and director of orchestral studies at Ohio State University, will conduct three of the concerts: the opening performance at 4 p.m. on September 19 at the Powers Auditorium; January 16, 2022, at 4 p.m., at the Ford Family Recital Hall; and 7:30 p.m. on May 7, 2022, at the Stambaugh auditorium.

The other guest chefs are:

∫ John Varineau, retired associate conductor of the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Symphony, who will be joined by organist Scott Dettra at 7:30 p.m. on October 17 in Stambaugh.

∫ Raffaele Ponti, conductor of the Punta Gorda Symphony Orchestra (Florida) and the Paducah Symphony Orchestra (Ky.), Who will conduct a holiday concert with Grammy-nominated pianist Jim Brickman at 7 p.m. December 30th at the Powers.

∫ Carl Topilow, founding conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, who will conduct a Broadway and Beyond program at 7:30 p.m. on February 4, 2022, at the Powers.

∫ Andre Raphel, who was conductor / musical director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (W.Va.) for 15 years, at 7:30 p.m. on March 10, 2022, in Stambaugh.

The season also includes a 4 p.m. concert on April 10, 2022 at the Ford Family Recital Hall with no currently listed conductor.

The use of the three facilities was motivated in part by necessity, Jaskiewicz said. Bookings have increased at the sites as COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. While the orchestra has given most of its concerts on Saturday nights in the past, the upcoming season also includes performances on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

The October 17 concert in Stambaugh also allows the orchestra to perform with guest artist Dettra, who will use Stambaugh’s EM Skinner pipe organ.

Season ticket packages and single tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on July 30 at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office , online at deyorpac.org and by calling 330-259-9651 or 330 -259-0555.

“The Youngstown Symphony is not going anywhere,” Jaskiewicz said. “We’re here to stay and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen. “

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