Syracuse Orchestra Welcomes Music Director Finalist Jacob joyce with Baroque-Inspired Concert
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Syracuse residents will soon have a chance to weigh in on the next musical leader of the Syracuse Orchestra,as Jacob Joyce is among six finalists vying for the position of music director. Joyce will conduct concerts on January 31 and Febuary 1 at St. Paul’s Syracuse, offering a glimpse into his vision for the orchestra’s future.
A Lifelong Passion Ignited by Brahms
Joyce’s love for orchestral music began in childhood, shaping a career dedicated to performance and mentorship.
- Joyce is currently the associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.
- He’s known for championing new music and making orchestral experiences accessible to wider audiences.
- his Syracuse concert program blends Baroque and contemporary pieces, highlighting connections between musical eras.
- Joyce prioritizes mentorship, fostering a love of classical music in young musicians.
Jacob Joyce traces his passion for classical music back to a single, formative moment: hearing Johannes brahms’ Second Symphony at the age of seven or eight. “I can trace my passion for classical music to that moment in time,” Joyce said from Washington, D.C., where he was working on a project for the National Symphony. “I remember being fully enamored. I really fell in love with the sound.”
From Violinist to Conductor
Joyce initially pursued violin performance, studying at Yale College where he majored in violin performance and economics.
A Baroque-Inspired Program
Joyce anticipates a similar welcoming atmosphere for his “Casual” series concert in Syracuse, scheduled for January 31 at 7 p.m. and February 1 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Syracuse. The 75-minute concert, featuring soloists from the TSO, will open with Archangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in D major, a piece from the late 1600s. Alfred Schnittke’s playful 1977 “Moz-Art à la Haydn,” based on fragments by Mozart and Haydn,will follow. Johann Sebastian Bach’s 1718 Brandenburg concerto No. 3 in G major and Igor Stravinsky’s 1938 Concerto in E-flat, or “Dumbarton Oaks,” inspired by Bach, will complete the program.
“I’m excited about the program. As a former violinist, I’m really interested in Baroque music and in making the connections between it and the contemporary pieces that evoke the Baroque style,” Joyce said. He added,”As in all concerts I conduct,I shall invite the audience to enter into the majesty of the music.”
beyond the Podium
Joyce’s life extends beyond the concert hall. He enjoys running with his miniature Australian shepherd, Wally, and is a dedicated coffee connoisseur, starting each day with freshly ground and brewed coffee. He will return to Central New York on March 7 to conduct a Masterworks series concert featuring the music of Mozart.
Show Details
What: Casual, “The Orchestra Spotlight”
Where: St. Paul’s Syracuse, 220 E. Fayette St.
When: Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.
Run Time: 75 minutes, no intermission
Tickets: $50 prime seating; $40 section B; senior citizens discounted. Students with I.D. $5; kids under 18 free
Purchase: 315-299-5598 or syracuseorchestra.org
Parking: Free on street.
