A first for Londontowne Symphony Orchestra

The Baltimore Sun

An impending musical disaster causing reported "hyper-ventilating among musicians" was turned into triumph at a May 20 concert, two weeks after ailing Londontowne Symphony conductor Brenda Leach needed a fill-in.

Anna Binneweg, director and conductor of the Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra, agreed to serve as cover conductor, quickly securing missing rental scores to conduct initial rehearsals.

LSO president Kathy Solano said she was "impressed at how well prepared she was for her first rehearsal with us."

Principal clarinetist Marcia Diehl described Binneweg's rehearsal technique as "clear and easy to follow," while principal trumpet and orchestra manager Scott Holberg added, "We were looking for someone with good baton technique, who rehearses effectively and who cares about the orchestra. Anna does all three."

Three weeks later, the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra announced that Binneweg had been hired as its first music director.

She officially assumes the post as music director July 1, 2008 -- the orchestra had already lined up its guest conductors for the coming season.

"Fortunately my first experience with the LSO was a great one, hence its recent outcome of my future appointment," Binneweg said.

Noting that it's "nearly impossible to know ahead of time the orchestra's strengths and weaknesses," she said she was delighted to discover the Londontowne musicians' "great focus, determination and desire to deliver a musically sound performance with ease of execution, precision and most importantly a passion for the program."

Originally made up of a group of music teachers who wanted to play together, Londontowne gave its first concert in fall 2003. Incorporated the same year, the orchestra went on to do three concerts in each of the following four seasons.

Solano said that after relying on guest conductors, the LSO values having its first music director.

"Anna is someone to watch," Solano said. "We have always wanted to showcase and be a stepping stone for outstanding local talent, and with Anna working at Anne Arundel Community College and Londontowne our community has every right to be proud of her as she shapes her future with our orchestra."

Dedicated to their craft of musicianship, LSO members are mostly residents of Anne Arundel County; others live and work in Calvert County.

Binneweg, 31, a native of Lake Tahoe, Calif., received her doctorate in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University last year.

Now a resident of Arlington, Va., she has completed her first season as director and conductor of the AACC orchestra.

"We've established a sense of trust and respect both in performance and rehearsal and have made great progress in our structural development and recognition within the community," Binneweg said. "The musicians are a delight to work with -- they continually strive to reach higher levels of artistic achievement and individual growth."

Binneweg also continues to serve as cover conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra and for OperaModa -- an all-female show on the administrative side that concentrates on American opera and features young artists in the Chicago area.

Her busy schedule reflects reality, with many conductors raising the baton for several orchestras.

Binneweg also joins an impressive local trend of past and present female conductors coincidentally in our area, such as Gisele Ben-Dor (formerly ASO, now conductor of the Santa Barbara and Israel Symphony Orchestras), Elizabeth Schulze (conductor of Maryland Symphony Orchestra in Hagerstown) and Marin Alsop (maestra, Baltimore Symphony).

Londontowne begins its 2007-2008 season Sept. 16 with an all-Beethoven program at South River High School. Information: www.londontownesymphony.org.

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