News
January 2008
Symphony Spotlight
Maestro Alan Heatherington
It
all started with a 78 rpm recording of Stravinsky. The Buffalo, N.Y. home
of Grace and Lawrence Heatherington
was filled with music in the late
1940s. Grace played and taught piano
and Lawrence played trombone. They
regularly tuned in the NBC Orchestra
broadcasts with Toscanini and
liked to listen to their small collection
of classical music recordings. Three-year-old Alan Heatherington used to
crawl up onto the living room hassock
and conduct. The rest is history.
His parents did not have much money, but when Alan was 12 years old they bought him a season subscription to the Buffalo Philharmonic. On Sunday afternoons, his parents dropped him off at Kleinhans auditorium for a concert, where he sat by himself in the second row. Josef Krips was the conductor, and the repertoire was bread-and-butter standards. Alan loved it.
Alan and his sister took piano lessons from their mother, but he hated the piano and switched to violin after taking the New York State music aptitude test administered to all 3rd graders. He received one of the highest scores on record and his school’s music department head was so impressed, Alan was encouraged to study an important orchestral instrument. Two were available, violin and drums. Thankfully, he chose the violin. His first violin teacher, Louis Baroudi, the school’s orchestra conductor, was outstanding and no teacher since then has had to correct or change anything fundamental about how Alan plays. His formal violin studies began at the age of 8, and word of Alan’s talent and reputation spread quickly. People began to call him “Little Heifetz” – which intrigued Alan to find out who Heifetz might be. Alan’s 25 cents per week allowance was judiciously saved until he had enough to buy another of the great violinist’s recordings. Half way through the eighth grade, Alan’s family left Buffalo and moved to Rochester, New York. This was an important transition in Alan’s life.
Rochester, then as now, is a vibrant cultural center and is home of the Eastman School of Music. Alan attended a public high school, but upon petition of his music teachers, was also accepted as a special student at the prestigious Eastman School, where he attended rehearsals, listened to teachers practicing in their studios, and did his applied study. Alan found the immersion in great music and great music mentors electrifying.
During High School Alan’s deeply held religious beliefs and interests found an outlet in youth organizations dedicated to Christian principles. He was president of his church’s youth group, president of the school’s Youth for Christ club as well as the president of the Rochester area Youth for Christ. When it came time to choose a college and professional direction, Alan turned down a full scholarship at the Eastman School to attend Houghton College and the seminary at Trinity Evangelical School in Bannockburn, Illinois. He chose this path with an uncertain goal, but possibly with a view to teaching.
In 1968, while in seminary, he
auditioned for a position with
Lake Forest Symphony. Victor
Aitay was conductor, and at the
time he was also co-concertmaster
of CSO. It was an extraordinary
opportunity for Alan to
learn from a musician of Aitay’s
stature. Alan was immediately
named assistant concertmaster of
Lake Forest Symphony and concertmaster/
assistant conductor
shortly thereafter, providing Alan
valuable conducting opportunities.
After graduating from seminary,
Alan taught theology and biblical
studies at the Moody Bible Institute
for 10 years (1969 – 1979).
He also taught music history and
violin, conducted their orchestra
and directed their oratorio
chorus. During those years, Alan also pursued his own music education.
In 1975, Alan earned a masters
degree in violin performance from
Northwestern University (NU) and
also won their honors competition.
At NU he studied under the famed
conductor and choral teacher, Margaret
Hillis and orchestra conductor
Bernard Rubenstein. Both were very
inspiring and it was at this point that
Alan decided he wanted to focus on
conducting.
Alan left LFS in 1977 to conduct the Liberty-Fremont Concert Society, a professional chamber orchestra with an enthusiastic audience in the Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills area. Meanwhile, Alan heard about an intriguing job opening at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Alan wanted to be near his critically ill father. Also, Alan’s infant daughter was very ill with pediatric cancer and a Buffalo area hospital was known for its outstanding treatment program. The transition from Liberty-Fremont to SUNY Buffalo as head of the string department and orchestral conducting was an opportunity to move forward professionally and fulfill personal needs at the same time.
Alan frequently traveled to Chicago as Music Director of the Chicago String Ensemble and as concertmaster of Light Opera Works in Evanston. When he decided to leave Buffalo behind and move back to Chicago it was a gamble, but one that has paid off with outstanding results.
Alan became the music Director of Lake Forest Symphony in 2000 and he has inspired a growing, loyal audience and earned critical acclaim ever since. He has also been Music Director of the Chicago Master Singers since 1989 and of the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra since 1996. Alan would like to continue his flexible schedule which allows for travel and guest conducting opportunities in Europe.
Alan has other passions in his life besides music. He is an unabashed nature lover and welcomes hummingbirds, deer, birds and even raccoons to his back yard. He also loves to travel and enjoys all kinds of theatre, especially Shakespeare. He shares all of these interests with his wife, Gayle. While classical music is his favorite, Alan enjoys many different kinds of music. He loves folk music from all cultures and historic periods including Medieval and Renaissance folk. He also admires the energy and the elegant simplicity of the Irish Chieftains.
Lake Forest Symphony holds a special place in Alan’s heart and he would like the orchestra to continue to grow, offering more concerts in a longer season and including more players. On the occasion of the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season, he looks back with pride and ahead in anticipation of an exciting future. Bravo.
Please support our 50th anniversary season!
Most of our revenue comes from individuals like you – people who love great classical music and want to ensure that it thrives in our community. The Lake Forest Symphony is dependent on your support for its continued vitality. Learn More and Donate Online Today…
The
Lake Forest Symphony is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois
Arts Council, an agency of the State of Illinois.