Five Jacksonville Symphony Musicians and Concertmaster Granted Tenure

Concertmaster Adelya Nartadjieva is among the five Jacksonville Symphony musicians recently granted tenure.

“Having tenured musicians in Jacoby Symphony Hall helps provides stability for the orchestra and is a testament to the high level of artistry this orchestra demonstrates.” – Music Director Courtney Lewis.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (PRWEB)
March 02, 2023

The Jacksonville Symphony proudly announces that five of its musicians have been granted tenure, a difficult and impressive status to achieve in the performing arts. Concertmaster, Adelya Nartadjieva, who joined the Jacksonville Symphony in the 2022/23 season, is one of the five musicians granted tenure. Joining her are:

• Igor Khukhua, Violin
• Jessica Hung, Violin
• Ben Fryxell, Associate Principal Cello
• Kevin Karabell, Principal Trumpet

Musicians of the Jacksonville Symphony receive tenure through a lengthy process that begins from the moment of their first audition. While some musicians audition for yearly roles at the Jacksonville Symphony, those who have their eyes set on a more permanent seat in Jacoby Symphony Hall must continually perform at their highest caliber and consistently demonstrate their artistry in order to receive the coveted title of “tenured.”

“This is such great news for not only these individuals but for the Jacksonville Symphony as a whole,” remarked Blake Schlabach, Vice President & General Manager. “I’m so thankful for Courtney and our orchestra personnel manager for shepherding these musicians on their journey to tenure and proving quality feedback and unwavering support throughout this process.”

Several times throughout the season, Lewis gathers the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Committee to discuss each eligible tenure-track musician. During these meetings, the musicians’ peers and other artistic leaders share and compare notes with Lewis to determine which musicians will receive tenure and how others can improve their craft to reach tenure status in the future. While tenure announcements were slated to be delivered to the musicians by March 31, Lewis was bursting with excitement to break the news earlier.

“I am so incredibly proud of these individuals for their relentless passion, talent and continued commitment to the Jacksonville Symphony,” said Music Director Courtney Lewis. “Having tenured musicians in Jacoby Symphony Hall helps provides stability for the orchestra and is a testament to the high level of artistry this orchestra demonstrates.”

About the Jacksonville Symphony

The Jacksonville Symphony is North Florida’s leading music nonprofit offering live performances at Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts and other venues throughout the area. In addition, the Symphony provides music instruction for youth and operates the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. For more information about the Symphony, visit JaxSymphony.org.

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