The 2024-2025 Anderson Symphony Orchestra season features our Artistic Director candidates as guest conductors.
● Each candidate will go through a rigorous week of interviews and meetings with musicians, ASO board and committee members, and staff.
● Each candidate has programmed a concert which he/she will rehearse and conduct.
● The ASO Musicians, ASO Board, and audience members will receive surveys following the candidate’s concert.
● Our new ASO Artistic Director will be chosen from these responses and offered the position.
Join the ASO with guest conductor Sarah Pearson, Music Director/Conductor/Founder of The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus of Tennessee, Music Director/Conductor for The Cleveland Pops, and Assistant Conductor for Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, as they present Mozart’s Overture to”The Marriage of Figaro” and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.”
The evening includes the Boyad Jieff-Junior “Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, “ with guest artist, Caitlin Jones.
Meet the artistic director candidate and guest conductor: Sarah Pearson.
Sarah Pearson has established herself as a prominent conductor in the world of classical music. Her impressive journey is a testament to her exceptional leadership and undeniable talent. Pearson’s credentials of extensive experience and numerous accolades in the world of conducting brought recognition as one of Chattanooga and Cleveland’s most gifted young arts leaders. Pearson has become a highly sought-after conductor with a busy schedule ahead. Represented by Vida Art Agency in Zurich, Switzerland, who manages her European engagements.
Throughout her career, Pearson has conducted a wide range of orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA), the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more. Her diverse repertoire and musical expertise have garnered international acclaim. Most recently, she made her conducting debut at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium.
Currently, Sarah Pearson holds key positions, serving as the Music Director/Conductor and Founder of The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus of Tennessee, Music Director and Conductor for The Cleveland Pops, and Assistant Conductor for Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA). Additionally, she shares her knowledge as an Adjunct Music Professor at Cleveland State Community College, championing new music and arts in education. Pearson’s dedication to music extends beyond the podium. She actively champions new music and educational initiatives, conducting numerous World and American premieres and serving as a teacher, guest lecturer, and adjudicator, shaping the future of the industry.
Her musical journey began in Virginia at the age of five, where she studied piano, voice, and flute. Pearson earned her Bachelor of Music Performance at Tennessee Temple University and her dual Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting and Music Education at Lee University School of Music. She further honed her skills at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, participating in various masterclasses, workshops, festivals, and competitions worldwide. Most recently, participating in the renown Cabrillo Music Festival for Composers and Conductors. Pearson’s principal conducting mentors include Maestro Robert Bernhardt and Dr. David Holsinger, alongside other esteemed teachers and conductors like Maestra JoAnn Falletta and Maestro Larry Rachleff.
Beyond her musical achievements, Sarah Pearson’s heritage adds a fascinating layer to her story. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, and a descendant of his father, William Henry Harrison, the 9th President. Additionally, she traces her lineage back to Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In her leisure time, Pearson indulges in her love of history, reading, running, cooking, entertaining friends, and cherishing moments with her family. Her multifaceted life mirrors the rich tapestry of her musical career, marked by dedication, innovation, and a deep passion for the arts.