articles / Classical Californians
Classical Californians: Kedrick Armstrong
Scott Chernis
This week's Classical Californian is Kedrick Armstrong, in his first season as Music Director and Conductor of Oakland Symphony. He's only the ninth Music Director in the orchestra's near 100-year history, following in the late Michael Morgan's footsteps as an advocate for inclusivity, education, and community involvement. His enthusiasm for all sorts of music has stretched from piano playing through clarinet and and many other instruments on the way to the conductor's podium. His selections include works by Mahler and Poulenc, a Traditional Spiritual arranged by one of his teachers, and two works by Black composers that had a profound impression on him, William Banfield and Irene Britton Smith.
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5, mvt. i – Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle
Trad (Shawn Okpebholo arr.): “Wade in the Water” – Will Liverman, baritone; Paul Sanchez, piano
Francis Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata, mvt. 3 – Sabine Meyer, clarinet; Oleg Maisenberg, piano
William Banfield: Essay for Orchestra – Chicago Sinfonietta, Paul Freeman
Irene Britton Smith: Violin Sonata, mvt. i: Caitlin Edwards, violin; Daniel Schlosberg, piano