For conductor, life’s been full of music
Herriman, 85, has no plans to slow down
Funny thing is, longtime Chandler Symphony Orchestra music Director Jack Herriman wanted to be a baseball player as a kid.
The 85-year-old maestro and Arizona classical music icon diligently played his violin growing up in Missouri, but he worshiped the Kansas City Royals and even attended one of their camps as a teenager.
“You think you know everything when you’re young,” he starts in a wise, deliberate voice. “I thought I wanted to be a baseball player, but I was a small guy and not quick enough or good enough. Good thing I had my violin.”
Indeed. And the classical music-loving public are the beneficiaries.
Herriman and the Chandler Symphony Orchestra wrap up the 201415 season at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 3, at the Chandler Center for the Arts presenting “War & Peace: Homage to Great Wars,” the theme coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I and the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. As part of the program, the orchestra will perform “Victory at Sea, Symphonic Suite” by American composers Richard Rodgers and Robert Russell Bennett.
“I was in the music program of the (United States) Navy during the Korean War and find (the music) interesting, beautiful and exciting,” he continues, “It was written for the ‘Victory at Sea’ television show at the time between us and Japan and Germany.”
Fascinating, just like Herriman, who first came to Arizona in 1989 to lead the Arizona Chamber Symphony and the Mesa Community College Symphony.
And like many who come to Arizona, Herriman put down roots and never left. Within a few years of his arrival, he formed the San Marcos Symphony named after the landmark hotel. » 1 conductor, and an associate conductor. » 1 piccolo player. » 1 timpani player. » 1 pianist. » 3 flute players. » 3 holiday performances, including the Nutcracker Ballet. » 4 percussionists. » 5 trumpet players. » 6 free performances each year. » 9 double bass players. » 16 cello players. » 27 brass and woodwinds. » 78 members of the string section. » $130,000 annual budget.