ANDOVER — A new director will be taking the stage at Phillips Academy this Fall.
Douglas McRay Daniels, the music director for the Fall River Symphony, is joining the academy as a concert nand conductor and hopes to bring new works and emotions to the community, according to a press release from the academy.
Daniels will hold his debut concert at Cochran Chapel, 2 Chapel Ave, on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3 p.m. During the concert the ensemble will perform works by Florence Price, Dmitri Shostakovich, Richard Wagner and Eric Whitacre.
“This program represents a variety of ideas that I am bringing to Andover. The Shostakovich and Wagner are traditional works while the Whitacre more modern sound. I want the community to feel comfortable with experiencing new works that evoke comfortable as well as uncomfortable emotions and experiences. As an African American, I want to make sure that there is space in the literature and on the stage for under-served populations,” said Daniels.
In addition to working as the music director for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra Daniels is also a cover conductor for the Boston Pomps an adjunct lecture and assistant professor at Tufts University and at Berkeley College of Music. Before taking the position at Phillips Academy he served as the instructor of music at Gann Academy.
“Florence Price is the first African American woman to have works performed by a major orchestra. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abbot Academy’s integration with Andover Academy, it is particularly important that we not only celebrate women composers but also female composers of African descent,” said Daniels. “I am excited about the work I have done so far with the Academy Concert Band, and I look forward to serving this community in this way.”
The concert will also include a performance by the Tuesday Night Band, which is directed by Peter Cirelli and will be free and open to the public. For more information on the concert contact the music department at 978-749-4260 or by email jmccormack@andover.edu.