Clinton Smith, an assistant conductor and chorus master with the Minnesota Opera, has been named artistic director and principal conductor of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. Smith will conduct the 85-person group in four concerts each year, beginning Sept. 11.
Smith came to Minnesota as part of the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artists Program in 2008 as a conductor. He will continue to work with the Opera, with plans to conduct a workshop of "Doubt," the new commission based on John Patrick Shanley's play. He performed similar duties when the Opera workshopped its world premiere of Kevin Puts' "Silent Night," the recently named Pulitizer Prize winner in music.
Smith has also worked with the San Francisco Opera, and Skylark Opera. Recently, he conducted "Madama Butterfly for Hamline University."
Smith came out o the University of Michigan graduate music program. He was assistant conductor of the University of Michigan Symphony.
"I believe the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra is one of the cultural focal points of the community, and the public will assuredly see performances of tremendous energy and passion," Smith said in a statement.
