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David Itkin David Itkin Music Director The 2007-2008 season marks Maestro David Itkin’s 15th year as Music Director and Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, his 1st season as Conductor of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and his 3rd season as Conductor of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. This season Maestro Itkin’s guest conducting engagements include the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and a 10-day teaching and conducting sojourn at the University of North Texas College of Music. During the past several seasons Maestro Itkin’s career has taken him to 44 U.S. states and 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including concerts and recordings with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Slovenska Filhamonija at Cancarjev Dom in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Other recent guest conducting appearances include concerts with the Seoul Philharmonic, the San Diego Symphony, the Colorado Philharmonic, and the Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Reno Chamber Orchestras. During the Summer of 2006 Maestro Itkin appeared once again with the Slovenska Filharmonija, conducting the opening concert of the 14th World Saxophone Congress. Twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize as a composer (“Jonah” [2001], and “Exodus” [2006]), Mr. Itkin’s first film score (“Sugar Creek”) was recorded in 2006 by the Arkansas Symphony for the film’s 2007 release. His most recent major work, “Exodus”, an oratorio, was premiered in April 2005 in Little Rock, with William Shatner narrating. “Exodus” will be released on CD in late 2007. Mr. Itkin is also in great demand as a speaker and lecturer. During the Summer of 2007 he was a featured lecturer at the Arkansas Governor’s School for the 2nd consecutive year, and lectured in Europe for Silversea cruise lines. Maestro Itkin’s previous positions include serving as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra in Chicago (1997-2000), Music Director/Conductor of the Kingsport Symphony (Tenn.) (1992-1995), Music Director of the Birmingham Opera Theatre (1992-1995), and Music Director for the Lucius Woods Festival Concerts in Solon Springs, Wisconsin (1993-2000). From 1988 to 1993 he served as Associate Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, during which time he was made Honorary Lt. Governor of the State of Alabama for outstanding service to the Arts. Israel Getzov Associate Conductor Named Associate Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2006, Israel Getzov is a conductor who has firmly established himself as a musical leader in the state of Arkansas and a rising talent on the national level. Mr. Getzov is in his third season as the Music Director of the Conway Symphony Orchestra, and holds the post of Principal Guest Conductor with the Fujian Symphony Orchestra in China where he is scheduled to make his fourth appearance since August 2005. Around the nation Mr. Getzov has guest conducted the Asheville Symphony, Monroe Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Skokie Valley Symphony, and Symphony of the Mountains. He has also led the Cleveland Institute of Music Opera and the Chicago Musical College Orchestra. Since beginning his association with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2001 as their Assistant Conductor, Ms. Getzov has led classical subscription concerts and pops concerts, as well as numerous outreach concerts around the state in cities such as Russellville, Batesville, Hot Springs, Monticello, Harrison, Jonesboro and North Little Rock. As Music Director of the Conway Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Getzov’s focus on artistic quality has led to an expansion of their repertoire to include works such as Strauss tone poems and Stravinsky ballets. Under Getzov’s leadership the CSO has been called “Energetic and highly entertaining....A joy to hear” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette). Mr. Getzov is a leader in the training of young Arkansan musicians. He is Director of Orchestras at the University of Central Arkansas, the premier orchestral training program in the state. He is the creator of “Secrets of the Orchestra” a series of orchestral concerts for school children in which he uses his unique brand of enthusiasm to introduce standard orchestral repertoire to young audiences. As a founding member of both the Rockefeller String Quartet and the ASO Arts Partners, he has performed chamber music for over 15,000 school children. He also hosts a weekly radio program on KLRE Classical 90.5. Raised in Chicago, Mr. Getzov’s musical studies began with the violin at age four and later included viola, piano and percussion. At age sixteen he became a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and went on to receive a full scholarship to study at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts where he studied the violin and orchestral studies. He earned a Master of Music in conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music and received additional training at the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival and the National Conducting Institute with the National Symphony Orchestra. 
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