Associate/Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba of the ASO to retire

The Allentown Symphony Association announced that Associate/ Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba Ronald Demkee will retire at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, which will be his 45th season as a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO).

“Live music in the Lehigh Valley and Ron Demkee are synonymous,” said ASO music director/ conductor Diane Wittry. “We are honored at the Allentown Symphony to have had such a long association with Ron both as Principal Tuba and as Associate/Pops Conductor. He will leave behind a remarkable legacy at the Allentown Symphony which we will recognize and pay tribute to over the next two years.” Wittry added, “However, this will not be a goodbye to Ron at Miller Symphony Hall!”

Wittry was referring to Demkee’s long-time position as conductor of the Allentown Band which performs several concerts a year at the venerable 123-year-old theater in downtown Allentown.

Demkee’s tenure with the Allentown Symphony dates back to the 1979-1980 season when he became Principal Tuba and first performed in that role in January 1980. He became the Orchestra’s Associate Conductor in 1983, which included assisting founding Music Director Donald Voorhees as well as occasionally leading classical rehearsals and concerts for Voorhees and his successor William Smith. Demkee has also conducted Young Peoples Concerts, Holiday Concerts, numerous annual performances of “The Nutcracker” with the Repertory Dance Theatre, and most Pops concert programs. As the ASO began presenting more Pops concerts about a decade ago, Demkee was promoted to Associate/Pops Conductor. He also served as Orchestra Personnel Manager for 30 years.

“It has been a privilege to be associated with the ASO,” Demkee commented. “I will, of course, remember these years fondly for the incredible artistic growth of the Orchestra, the many marvelous moments of music making, and even more significantly for the many meaningful and lasting friendships cultivated during that time. It has been a very fulfilling, rewarding, and enriching 43-year journey and there are still two more to go.” Demkee concluded by saying, “I wish nothing but the best for continued success with what I am certain will be a bright future for the ASO.”

Looking ahead, Wittry shared that, “I will continue to conduct some pops concerts, but we are going to start bringing in guest conductors and see how both our audiences and musicians respond to them. There is no set timeline or determination for appointing a new Pops Conductor, but that will be continually evaluated as time goes on.” Wittry further explained that,

“the Principal Tuba position will be auditioned at the appropriate time as is the case with any other open positions in our wonderful orchestra.”