Passing the baton
OKC Philharmonic designates a successor to Maestro Joel Levine.
Alexander Mickelthwate couldn’t stop smiling as he accepted the conductor’s baton from Maestro Joel Levine with an enthusiastic embrace.
After a 2 ½-year search and selection process, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic literally raised the curtain on a new era Monday in the Civic Center Hall of Mirrors. Mickelthwate, 46, has been named the successor to Joel Levine, the orchestra’s founding music director and conductor, who is retiring.
“It’s personally and musically extremely gratifying,” Mickelthwate told
The Oklahoman in an interview at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel before his introduction. “You don’t have it too often that you have an outgoing music director who is an icon in the community, who is beloved, who built an incredible institution. It’s amazing to work to continue that legacy.”
About 250 people cheered through a standing ovation as Mickelthwate was introduced at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Society.
“I am thrilled with the number of people who are coming up to me and saying, ‘He was my choice,’” said OKC Philharmonic Executive Director Eddie Walker. “We had an outstanding slate of candidates ... and I think we’re going to have a great time with him.”
Taking up the baton
Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Mickelthwate moved to the U.S. to attend the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore. He began his North American career as assistant conductor with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and later served as associate conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
He has been music director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada for 12 years.
“I was looking for a new position in America, and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic was looking for somebody. I was in different searches, and in this case, it was really the place that I wanted to be,” he said. “The musicianship of the orchestra is terrific.”
Mickelthwate conducted his first concert with the OKC Philharmonic last November as one of the music director candidates.
“My first piece was a piece by a female living composer. Great work, an overture, Anna Clyne, “Masquerade” ... and I think it was almost a standing ovation. It was nuts,” he said. “Your audience rocked.”
He and five other finalists were chosen from among 225 applicants and each given a chance to conduct the OKC Philharmonic in concert last season.
“I watched with intense curiosity. I attended all the concerts. It was a great, great experience,” said Levine, who wasn’t part of the search. “It was a terrific class.”
Joining the community
After hugging Levine at Monday’s ceremony, Mickelthwate embraced his wife, Abigail, and two sons, Jack, 13, and Jacob, 9. He said the family has already started searching for a house in Oklahoma City.
“It’s one of the main things for me, not only to be seen from the stage but just to be in the community,” he said.
Mickelthwate will initially take up the baton as the music director designate, a title he will carry through June 2018. The orchestra revealed Monday a 2017-18 Classics Series concert season divided with three concerts each for Levine and Mickelthwate, plus two performances that will feature guest conductors.
The newcomer said he is looking forward to working Levine during the transition.
“We have a year to figure things out and to slowly grow into the community — and I love that,” Mickelthwate said. “It’s inspiring to kind of know that there’s a high level of musicianship and a tradition of a high-level of music-making — and I can continue that.”
Levine plans to retire after conducting the Classics Series season finale May 12, 2018.