August 6, 2013

American-born conductor KENNETH WOODS is to be the new principal conductor of the English Symphony/English String Orchestra, a Worcestershire-based ensemble founded as a string orchestra in 1978 by William Boughton. He succeeds Vernon “Tod” Handley, in the post until his death in 2008.

The orchestra has about a 15-concert season in its home base of Malvern, but tours regularly and is active in community outreach and education, providing music classes and playing in hospitals. Its motto is “Music for Everyone.”

“My colleagues in the ESO do the work they do in schools, care homes, hospices, and on youth orchestra courses because they believe in it,” said Woods. “What could be more exciting for a conductor than to work with colleagues who want to be there?”

Woods arrived in 2012 as artistic director. His new post represents a promotion.

His background includes the National Endowment for the Arts Rural Residency Program, in which he was as cellist in the Taliesin Trio in Mississippi County, Arkansas, one of the nation’s poorest. He was also music director of the Oregon East Symphony in Pendleton, Oregon. He has described the group as “the most remotely situated full symphony orchestra on the planet.” The orchestra was particularly notable for its “Redneck” Mahler cycle.

Woods has also guest conducted frequently.