The San Luis Obispo Symphony has been searching for a new music director since the winter of 2016. After the Symphony narrowed down a list of 130 candidates, this past season the community met each of the five finalists through interviews, concerts, meetings, dinners and more. The selection process is over, and the new music director is New Zealander Andrew Sewell.
Listen to this interview as Marisa Waddell chats with Maestro Sewell, along with the Symphony board president elect, David Hamilton, and orchestra member Michael Johnson about the new direction the orchestra is about to take.
Andrew Sewell is currently Music Director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison. His previous appointments include Music Director with the Wichita Symphony, Mansfield Symphony (OH), and Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony. A native of New Zealand, Maestro Sewell received his music training on the violin, piano and cornet, and began conducting at age 16. Six years later, he made his professional opera debut with the Mercury Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He has guest conducted the Detroit Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Oklahoma Mozart Festival, Monterey Symphony and National Symphony of Mexico. Andrew Sewell holds a Master of Music Degree with Honors in conducting from the University of Michigan.