{"id":101626,"date":"2024-02-07T11:37:36","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T16:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=101626"},"modified":"2024-02-07T11:37:36","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T16:37:36","slug":"interview-daniel-bartholomew-poyser-talks-conducting-community-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/02\/07\/interview-daniel-bartholomew-poyser-talks-conducting-community-career\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser Talks About Conducting, Community &amp; Career"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_101629\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-101629\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-101629\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3.jpg\" alt=\"Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser (Photos courtesy of the TSO)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-101629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser (Photos courtesy of the TSO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI knew that I wanted to conduct orchestras, and that&#8217;s it,\u201d says Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser of his early musical ambitions. It\u2019s a common start, but one that has in his case led to an uncommon career, one with a reach that extends across North America.<\/p>\n<p>With a Bachelor in Music Performance and Education from the University of Calgary and a Master of Philosophy in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, he began his career as a teacher.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never dreamed that I would be on staff at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is a familiar figure to Toronto\u2019s classical music audiences, but they may not be aware of the full extent of his professional practice.<\/p>\n<p>The Barrett Principal Education Conductor &amp; Community Ambassador of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Daniel is also the Principal Youth Conductor and Creative Partner of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador of Symphony Nova Scotia, and Resident Conductor of Engagement and Education of the San Francisco Symphony.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number and range of orchestras he\u2019s worked with. He is also host of a weekly radio show on the CBC.<\/p>\n<p>It is, of course, a career with an underlying theme, one that extends the real of orchestral music beyond the formality of the concert hall and into the community, as well as bringing imaginative programming back into the concert hall.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DubrfZi5uSU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>The Orchestra Is An Institution<\/h3>\n<p>The news, in general, has not been so great over the last year when it comes to orchestras in Canada, or even internationally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the things to note is that, every decade, there&#8217;s a new reason why orchestras are in peril. Yet, every decade, orchestras continue to work and function,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>Culture changes and transforms, leaving all institutions in the perpetual position of having to both maintain operations and they grow\/change with the times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s serious, but also normal,\u201d he notes. \u201cI think orchestras are thinking right now about ways that they can bring special value to people closest to them.\u201d As he points out, that will look different for each orchestra and the community they serve. It\u2019s a challenge, but a rewarding one. \u201cIt&#8217;s joyful work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his work with different orchestras, he finds common threads.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat makes something relevant is the degree to which it matters to people who are actually present,\u201d he says, noting there are many ways that orchestras can respond to the call for relevance. \u201cWho do the people in the community want to see on stage?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He notes that diversity includes not just what people look like, but social, locational, and economic diversity. \u201cWho\u2019s listening, and who\u2019s deciding \u2014 how do we treat each other as we go about this? Do the musicians look like people in our community?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The concerts he\u2019s led have woven reggae into an orchestral setting, and a Gaelic festival, \u201cJohnny Cash along side Beyonc\u00e9 alongside Reena Esmail\u201d as he describes it. \u201cAre we including prison audiences? Are we including kids on the spectrum?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Programmers, and others who operate behind the scenes of a concert, play a key role, and also need to listen to and represent community interests. \u201cIt&#8217;s possible to do all this work, and leave all [participants] empty,\u201d he says. \u201cIt&#8217;s possible to do something imperfectly, but the mistake can be covered with grace and understanding \u2014 that makes the difference. It&#8217;s about relationships ultimately.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CviDjn4GTvM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>The Orchestra In The Community<\/h3>\n<p>All forward-thinking orchestras are considering how the music is delivered, and ways that it can affect how the audiences experience the music. It\u2019s not just about attracting new, younger audiences, but also deepening relationships with the core audience.<\/p>\n<p>The TSO is big enough to take some risks and experiment how the music is delivered. \u201cThe content of the music making is going to be world class, if we&#8217;re talking about the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s not just about new people. The people who are also part of our family, this is also about them,\u201d he explains. \u201cThey&#8217;re ultimately the judge of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It takes ingenuity and creativity to consider how to reach audiences in new ways. That\u2019s the impetus behind initiatives like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/11\/07\/scoop-rite-spring-toronto-symphony-announces-unique-partnership-podcast-star-hrishikesh-hirway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TSO\u2019s upcoming event with Song Exploder<\/a> that delves into Stravinsky\u2019s Rite of Spring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s not a new direction, it&#8217;s an expansion,\u201d he says. \u201cI think Gustavo&#8217;s project is going to be phenomenal.\u201d It will appeal to existing fans of the work as well as those who know nothing about it.<\/p>\n<p>Outreach programs and different delivery methods, they all have the same goal: expanding the reach of orchestras as they acknowledge the role it can play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA big factor [is] community building.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Those shared moments when an audience is united \u2014 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/01\/08\/report-new-research-looks-music-builds-social-connections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science tells us that we tend to sync physically with the music<\/a>, along with the feeling of being emotionally transported \u2014 aren\u2019t inconsequential.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#8217;s a very powerful unifying moment,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople know that, and that&#8217;s why they keep coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_101630\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-101630\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-101630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Daniel-B-P-with-TSO-by-Jag-gundu.jpg\" alt=\"Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conducts the TSO (Photo: Jag Gundu)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Daniel-B-P-with-TSO-by-Jag-gundu.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Daniel-B-P-with-TSO-by-Jag-gundu-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Daniel-B-P-with-TSO-by-Jag-gundu-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Daniel-B-P-with-TSO-by-Jag-gundu-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-101630\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conducts the TSO (Photo: Jag Gundu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Orchestras Are The Future<\/h3>\n<p>Daniel\u2019s upcoming plans take him on the road. This month, he\u2019s back in the Maritimes to conduct a program of Gershwin with Symphony Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019ll be making his debut with the New York Philharmonic in April, conducting one of their signature Young People\u2019s Concerts. The performance is part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for the Young People\u2019s Concerts series, and takes place at David Geffen Hall at NYC\u2019s Lincoln Center.<\/p>\n<p>In May, 10,000 students drawn from New York City and are will participate in concerts at Carnegie Hall with Bartholomew-Poyser as conductor for the mass ensemble. It\u2019s part of the city\u2019s Link Up Music Education Program. True to his own philosophy of programming, the concert will include works produced from a season-long Women In Music Focus initiative, along with music from all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, Bartholomew-Poyser began working with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/01\/23\/scoop-sistema-toronto-toronto-symphony-orchestra-announce-new-partnership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sistema Toronto as part of the TSO\u2019s new partnership<\/a> with the non-profit music education program. It\u2019s a workshop he was happy to lead. \u201cYou have to water the roots. That&#8217;s what that&#8217;s about,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was really great to go out and see how fast they work.\u201d He mentions the real passion and hard work he saw both in the students and teachers of the program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe joy on the kids&#8217; faces,\u201d he recalls. Sistema\u2019s success is proof of the power of music \u2014 and its universality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnybody can play an instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is a familiar figure to Toronto audiences, but they may not be aware of the full extent of his professional practice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":101629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,14,19,875,4967,29,63],"tags":[38076,5644],"yst_prominent_words":[6715,8347,11811,32137,6616,8473,11877,8006,15595,38073,38065,6826,6827,6825,15593],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-3.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-qr8","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101626"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101631,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101626\/revisions\/101631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101626"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=101626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}