ESM welcomes home Mitch Miller

Miller

Miller, whose career has spanned decades, has put his stamp on American music in a variety of ways. Described by one music critic as "the nearest thing to a musical Secretary of State," he played in student ensembles and played professionally as second oboe in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra while attending ESM. Shortly after graduating in 1932 with a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction, he moved to New York City. By 1934, he was touring the country with a symphony orchestra assembled by George Gershwin.

On the heels of that auspicious start, Miller went on to successful turns as a record producer (no one in the history of record production has produced more No. 1 hits), network television star, and one of the country's most sought-after conductors.

"There is no high-brow or low-brow music," he has said. "I try to reach the people. What else would I be doing it for? My reward is to see faces come alive!"

Miller will get another chance "to reach the people" on Friday, November 19, at 8 p.m. in Eastman Theatre, where he will lead the Eastman Philharmonia in Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1, Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Rossini's Overture to Semiramide, and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. ESM undergraduate student Janelle Fung '01 (piano) and graduate student Jin Young Koh (violin) were selected to be the soloists in an earlier competition judged by a panel that included Miller.

The concert is free to students and University ID holders. General admission tickets are available at Ticket Express, 100 East Ave., or by calling 222-5000. They also may be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the start of the performance.

Maintained by University Public Relations
Please send your comments and suggestions to:
Public Relations.