Utah Symphony Announces new VP of Artistic Planning

THE UTAH SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF ARTISTIC PLANNING


SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Symphony has appointed Anthony “Toby” Tolokan as the new Vice President of Symphony Artistic Planning effective immediately. Currently, the Director of Artistic Planning for Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO), Tolokan leaves his position after nine years of dedicated service. Tolokan will fill the position previously held by Jeff Counts.

“I am very excited by the prospect of working with Toby, and very much look forward to collaborating with someone with his level of knowledge and experience. The Utah Symphony will benefit greatly from his expertise and from his eagerness to embrace challenges in such an open-minded way,” said Thierry Fischer, Music Director of the Utah Symphony.

“With his expertise in the orchestral world, Toby will be a great asset to our organization. He is highly respected by agents and artists and is an incredible leader in the field,” said Melia Tourangeau, President and CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera.
During his tenure with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Tolokan was instrumental in bringing numerous world-class artists and repertoire to Hilbert Circle Theatre audiences, and in collaboration with former Music Director Mario Venzago and numerous guest conductors, programmed nearly 100 first-ever ISO performances of classical symphonic works including Shostakovich’s Fourth and Bruckner’s Eighth Symphonies. He also contracted and programmed several world premiere commissions from composers including Claude Baker, Dr. David Baker, James Beckel, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Jennifer Higdon.

Since his arrival in January 2002 from Seattle Symphony, Toby has invited over 70 world-renowned artists for their ISO debuts, among them violinists Hilary Hahn and Vadim Gluzman; pianists Lang Lang and Yuja Wang; cellists Truls Mørk and Daniel Mueller-Schott. Toby has also invited many internationally-recognized conductors to lead the ISO in debut performances such as Rudolf Barsha, Stéphane Denève, Thierry Fischer, Juanjo Mena, Vasily Petrenko, Carlo Rizzi, Vassily Sinaisky and Krzysztof Urbanski. Recently-appointed Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézét-Séguin made his ISO debut in 2006 under Toby’s invitation.

Prior to joining ISO, Toby served as the Artistic Administrator for Seattle Symphony Orchestra (1995-2002) and Orchestra Manager for Hartford Symphony Orchestra (1985-1995). Toby received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from the University of Connecticut with emphasis in violin and orchestra conducting studies.

About Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
The Utah Symphony, which performs at Abravanel Hall, and Utah Opera, which performs at the Capitol Theatre, reach 450,000 citizens in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 200,000 students annually. They perform year round with performances in their home venues as well as the Deer Valley® Music Festival, in Ogden, at Sundance and in communities throughout the Intermountain West. The organization employs 83 full-time musicians and 60 staff. More information is online at www.utahsymphonyopera.org.

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