Symphony's Kenney takes top conducting award 

You make MENC/ASTA proud! BRAVO!!! 

Wes Kenney

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707250325 (full article)

Fort Collins newspaper - Symphony's Kenney takes top conducting award 

BY STACY NICK StacyNick@coloradoan.com 

Fort Collins Symphony Music Director Wes Kenney maestroed his way to winning the Varna International Conductors Competition overseas Sunday. Held in Vidin, Bulgaria, this is the first year the six-day conducting workshop has held a competition. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to win such an award," Kenney said Tuesday upon returning from the competition. "I'm also excited for this coming season with the Fort Collins Symphony. "I learned quite a few things there," said Kenney, who has been with the Fort Collins Symphony for four years. "As conductors, we're always students. There's always something new to learn, so to be able to get other world views (on music) was invaluable." During the competition Kenney faced some difficult challenges, the first of which was simply communicating with the musicians. In Bulgaria very few people speak English, Kenney said. And even common gestures that Americans take for granted as being universal are not. "Just to acknowledge something was difficult," he said. "There they nod their heads to say 'no' and shake their heads to say 'yes.'" Kenney conducted the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra in several works, including Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony. One problem: The orchestra never had performed Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony. It was a challenge but not an insurmountable one, Kenney said. Obviously. "The orchestra, concertmaster, faculty, and myself have concluded unanimously that the winner is Maestro Wes Kenney from Colorado, USA," said Maestro Dion Tchobanov, chief conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic, Sofia State Opera and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, in announcing the award. Kenney winning such a prestigious, international award showcases the symphony's global vision, bringing world-class artists to Fort Collins. This season the symphony will host several international-caliber musicians on its stage, including Italian pianist Maurizio Moretti on Feb. 2. As part of his prize, Kenney will return to Bulgaria next season to conduct concerts in Vidin with the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra.