The San Francisco Classical Voice features conductor Sarah Hicks, who will conduct April 4 and 5 screenings of Batman with the SF Symphony.  Conducting live music for films is one of Hicks’ specialties, as is Pops concerts.  She chose this specialization, which, as she explains, “allows me, in my mind, more interesting work, collaborating with artists in different genres, and producing my own concerts, which may be multimedia …. It’s much more interesting to me to be multitasking and creating something new.”

But Hicks is also thoroughly versed in the classical tradition, and being truly “ready for anything,” as the SFCV article describes her, she will take on Beach’s Monumental Gaelic Symphony with the Minnesota Orchestra next season on April 13 (here is the press release for the new season).  Hicks is the Principal Conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, with the Minnesota Orchestra.  The Beach will be part of the “Inside the Classics” series — see page 30 of the PDF of the entire 2018-19 season for the orchestra.  This will be the most prominent performance of Beach’s Symphony in many years — the Minnesota Orchestra is consistently rated in the top ten U.S. orchestras.  While we have been celebrating many exciting performances of Beach’s music it is exciting to have a very high-profile ensemble take up the work!