Dana Sadava.
Executive director Richard Aldag announced this week the hiring of Sadava on the heels of a slate of nine performances for its 19th season of bringing free concerts of orchestral music to the community. Those performances featured a trio of guest conductors, with MVP will then selecting one of them as its next permanent artistic director/conductor based on input from the musicians and audience members.
The mission of MVP is “to enrich the cultural life of the Bay Area by offering free orchestral programs to people of all ages and means in their own communities,” according to the organization’s website. “As an organization, MVP believes that music is a vital part of individual and community life. Whether participating as a player or as a listener, music engages our imaginative powers, awakens our aesthetic sensibilities, and inspires our creative expression.”
Mill Valley Philharmonic now enters its 20th season with dedicated executive and artistic directors. Sadava is in her fifth year as music director of the Community Women’s Orchestra in Oakland and artistic director of the Pasadena Opera. She is the conductor of the Santa Rosa Symphony Aspirante Youth Orchestra and director of Chamber Music at The Urban School. She has also worked as a conductor and coach at Opera San Jose, University of California San Diego, Wexford Opera (Ireland), Banff Opera as Theatre (Canada), Island City Opera, Festival Opera, Indianapolis Opera and Pensacola Opera.
“I am very honored to be given this opportunity,” Sadava says. “Laurie has built something really wonderful here, and I feel very lucky to perform with these fantastic musicians!”
An announcement of the 2019-2020 season will be forthcoming in early-August.