The Redlands Symphony in Southern California has named Deanna Tham as its new Music Director, replacing Ransom Wilson.
Who She Is
Tham, 38, is a Bay Area native who currently serves as Music Director of both the Union Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Chamber Orchestra. Her appointment in Redlands adds a third ensemble to her portfolio — a workload that reflects both her ambition and the reality of building a conducting career in the United States, where few positions offer a full-time salary.
Her Vision
In her introductory statement, Tham articulated a philosophy that goes beyond conventional orchestral programming:
"I want to be an instigator and conduit for more synergy between both artistic and non-artistic organizations in the community — pooling resources to meet both entertainment and social needs."
This is not the standard music director talking point about "engaging the community." Tham is describing something more specific: using the orchestra as a platform for cross-sector collaboration — connecting with schools, social services, local businesses, and civic organizations in a way that makes the orchestra indispensable to the city, not just ornamental.
Why It Matters
The Redlands Symphony is a community orchestra — not a Big Five behemoth with a $100 million budget. It is the kind of ensemble that serves a specific place, for a specific audience, with specific resources.
These orchestras — the hundreds of smaller ensembles that operate across the United States, far from the spotlight of New York and Chicago — are the foundation of American orchestral music. They are where most Americans experience live symphonic performance. They are where young conductors learn their craft. They are where the art form connects with communities that will never attend the Met or the LA Phil.
Deanna Tham's appointment is a reminder that the future of classical music is not only being shaped in the world's great concert halls. It is being shaped in places like Redlands, by conductors like Tham, who understand that an orchestra's value is measured not by its budget but by its relationship with the people it serves.
Sources: Slipped Disc, Redlands Symphony press release.
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