JoAnn Falletta is pleased to be named the Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center starting in the summer of 2011 and going through the 2013 season. As Principal Guest Conductor at BMC she will conduct at least two programs each season.
 
JoAnn has appeared regularly at Brevard in recent years, and is delighted with this appointment. From her work with the Center, she has firsthand knowledge of the excellence of the program and the students and is especially looking forward to spending parts of the summer in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, a setting that she finds to be a great inspiration for teaching and enjoying music.
 
“JoAnn Falletta is a major American musician. She is also a superb mentor to our students and a great friend to the Music Center,” said Keith Lockhart, BMC Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. “With JoAnn onboard in a formal capacity, our program will only grow stonger.”
 
JoAnn has mentored young musicians and conductors through programs at the League of American Orchestras and has guest conducted many of the top conservatory orchestras including Curtis, Juilliard and Mannes, and at Interlochen, Round Top and the Aspen Festival.
 
The Brevard Music Center will celebrate its 75th Anniversary in 2011. Founded in 1936 by James Christian Pfohl, his vision to establish a music program for talented young people has matured into one of this country’s finest summer institutes and festivals for aspiring musicians. BMC welcomes to its 180-acre campus each year 400 students, representing over 40 states and eight foreign countries. It has, as well, 65 distinguished faculty artists drawn from America’s most prestigious conservatories, universities and orchestras. Each summer, the Center invites an array of celebrated guest artists to appear in performance with the students of BMC. The 2011 season will run from June 24 to August 7.