Passing the baton

Gisele Ben-Dor talks about her decision to leave Santa Barbara Symphony

By Andrea Estrada
South Coast Beacon

After nine seasons of crisscrossing the country to direct the Santa Barbara Symphony on the West Coast while raising a family on the East Coast and trying to maintain other career commitments, Gisèle Ben-Dor has announced that she plans to step down as the symphony’s music director at the end of the 2003-04 season. She will make a gradual departure, however, serving as music director for the 2004-05 season and conducting four of the seven pairs of subscription concerts. For the 2005-06 season, she will assume the title of Principal Guest Conductor and lead three pairs of concerts. At the end of her tenure, she will be named Conductor Laureate in honor of what will be more than a decade of work with the symphony.

“It’s not easy to say goodbye to something that’s been a part of your life,” Ben-Dor said in an interview from her home in New Jersey. “I don’t have regrets in terms of my career because there are other options. But to part ways isn’t easy after so many years.”

Although Ben-Dor feels tremendous affection for Santa Barbara, she relishes the idea of permanently stowing her carry-on bag to settle on one side of the country.

“I really look forward to simplifying my life and taking on other challenges and having more time with my family, more time period,” she acknowledged. “When the commuting is so constant it becomes a huge burden. The time spent in the actual commute, the packing, unpacking, scheduling, it all adds up.”

Earlier in her tenure as music director of the Santa Barbara Symphony, Ben-Dor and her husband considered settling on the South Coast. They were discouraged, however, by the high cost of home ownership here and didn’t want to take their children away from their established lives.

“One issue was financial and the other was that my kids were so well-adjusted where they were,” she said. “So to uproot them required a really good, unavoidable reason.”

Under Ben-Dor’s direction, the Santa Barbara Symphony has risen to the top tier of American regional ensembles. Over the years, she has been a powerful advocate for bringing symphonic music to children, working steadily to expand the Symphony’s Family Series and the Concerts for Young People series, which she both plans and conducts. These free concerts allow 8,000 school children in the area to experience a full symphonic concert at the Arlington Theatre.

“Everything we do to educate and engage our community — to build our future audience — has turned us into a model orchestra,” Ben Dor said. “I know of few orchestras with an education program such as ours.”

Commenting on Ben-Dor’s departure, Symphony Executive Director John Robinson acknowledged the conductor’s contributions.

“(Gisèle’s) talent and artistry have raised the bar for this orchestra and there is much affection for her in our community. Her willingness to remain on the podium while we commence our music director selection process will provide a tremendous gift of continuity.”

Ben-Dor plans to serve as an advisor in the search process, offering guidance and expertise.

“Many conductors announce early on that they would like to leave and when things are done in a friendly, amicable atmosphere it’s good for everyone. It was (the board of directors’) choice that I stay on until they find someone they like,” she said. “I’ll take care of the artistic elements of the orchestra until I literally pass the baton.”