(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Garden State Philharmonic, Inc. (GSP) has named conductor Diane Wittry as Music Director for its orchestra’s 63rd Season (2018-2019). Wittry will become the Philharmonic’s seventh Music Director and first female conductor of the Philharmonic in its rich 62-year history.
“The selection of Ms. Wittry as our next Music Director is truly a milestone for the Philharmonic,” said Lauren Dooley, Garden State Philharmonic Board Vice President. “We were immediately impressed by not only Wittry’s musical knowledge and ability, but also her passion, inspiring performance and excitement to develop and grow the audience and musicians of the Philharmonic.”
Specializing in finding creative ways to make the music fresh, accessible and exciting, Wittry is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in Allentown, PA. Prior to that, she was the Artistic Director of the Ridgewood Symphony (Ridgewood, NJ); Music Director and Conductor of the Norwalk Symphony (Norwalk, CT); Music Director and Conductor of The Symphony of Southeast Texas (Beaumont, TX) where her artistic leadership garnered national attention, and Artistic Director of the International Cultural Exchange Program with the Sarajevo Philharmonic, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“I am very excited about working with the Board of Directors, volunteers and orchestra members of the Garden State Philharmonic,” said Wittry. “This orchestra has been serving the community for 62 years and I am thrilled to continue to strengthen the musical impact on the Jersey Shore.”
Recently named one of the "Top 30 Music Influencers" by Musical America Worldwide, Wittry is known for her innovative programming and engaging audience rapport. During the past few seasons, Wittry has conducted concerts in Poland, China, Japan, Canada, Italy, Bosnia, Russia, Slovakia, New York, Washington D.C, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Kansas, and California, as well as her regularly scheduled concerts with orchestras in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Wittry’s first official performance as Music Director for the GSP will be the Season Opening Performance, Scheherazade, on September 16, 2018 at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts in Toms River, NJ. Subscriptions for the Garden State Philharmonic’s 63rd Season are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the GSP website gardenstatephilharmonic.org or by calling the GSP Office at 732-255-0460. Single tickets will be available to the public beginning in August.
The Garden State Philharmonic, Inc. (GSP) is now celebrating its 63rd Anniversary Season (2018-19). From its community orchestra roots in Ocean County, NJ, the organization has grown into a critically acclaimed professional orchestra, a three-tiered youth orchestra, a youth chorus, and a community chorus serving over 20,000 people of all ages on the Jersey Shore.
Under the leadership of Music Director Diane Wittry and Executive Director Allison Walter, the mission of the GSP is to maintain and operate a professional symphony orchestra at the Jersey Shore; to give concerts of cultural and educational value in and for the community, and to foster such related activities that encourage an interest in and appreciation of music.
The Garden State Philharmonic is supported in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Investors Bank Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, The Cultural and Heritage Commission of Ocean County, and the Rea Foundation.
