Meet Finalist Spencer Martin

Joys and Heartbreak: The Wayfarer’s Journey
Audition Concert
Saturday, October 24
5:30 p.m. Doors
6:00 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk
7:00 p.m. Concert

Get to know CVSO’s next conductor and music director finalist, Spencer Martin, before his audition concert on October 24!

Q: What is something about this experience that you are looking forward to?

A: One of the things I most enjoy about working with a community orchestra is the sense of shared purpose. We come together because making music is genuinely important to us, and that enthusiasm can create a very special energy in rehearsal and performance. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the musicians of the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, making wonderful music together, and spending time in Eau Claire!.

Q: What can patrons expect from this music? What could they be listening for?

A: There is so much for an audience to listen for in this concert—beautiful melodies, extraordinary orchestral colors, moments of great intimacy, and some truly thrilling rhythmic energy. Each work speaks in a very distinctive voice, but all four communicate very directly with the listener. I believe this program is a wonderful showcase for the orchestra.

Dvořák: The Eighth Symphony is like a walk through the Bohemian countryside. It seems to overflow with melody, and there is both joy and spontaneity throughout the work. While it follows traditional formal structures, it feels almost programmatic in nature.

Mahler: Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen is a completely different kind of experience. It is a deeply personal work that is both vulnerable and deeply human - written by Mahler at a young age after experiencing his own difficult break up. Listen to how he uses the orchestra to capture the text, which he wrote himself.

Gershwin: Cuban Overture is an explosion of rhythmic drive and orchestral color. Inspired by a visit to Havana in 1932, Gershwin captures the infectious rhythms and vibrant musical character he encountered there. In addition to celebrating the music of Cuba, the overture is a dazzling and virtuosic showpiece for the entire orchestra

Q: Why did you choose a particular piece of music? What makes it appealing?

A: I wanted to create a program that would be gratifying and fun for the orchestra to rehearse and perform, while also being exciting for the audience. I have long loved Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and was eager to build a program around this deeply serious and personal music. To balance the emotional weight of the Mahler, I immediately thought of Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony, a work filled with warmth, optimism, and wonderful melodies. I think the two pieces complement each other beautifully. I also wanted to end the concert with music from Latin America or inspired by Latin American music, and while there are many possibilities, Gershwin’s vibrant Cuban Overture felt like exactly the right piece for this program. What could be better than a brass fanfare to open a concert?

Q: What are your thoughts about spending time in Eau Claire and/or working with CVSO?

A: I’ve had the opportunity to visit Eau Claire a number of times to perform at the university, and I’ve always been struck by the beauty of the city and the revitalization of its downtown. When I visited this past summer, I had the chance to tour the Pablo Center and was tremendously impressed. It’s a beautiful facility and a testament to the importance this community places on the arts—something that I believe is increasingly rare and very special. It is a real honor to be a candidate for the music director position of the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, and I’m especially excited to rehearse and perform with these wonderful musicians.