Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Mulligan.
Stephen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 5 years old I started studying the violin. My father is a violinist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and he was (and still is) a role model for me, so playing the violin was a natural choice. I went on to play in a youth orchestra in high school and regularly attended Baltimore Symphony concerts. As a member of the youth orchestra and as a member of the audience, I often thought about the conductor’s perspective.
I actually learned the basics from my high school chorus conductor, Philip Olsen, and I had a few sporadic opportunities to conduct both the chorus and youth orchestra in high school. But it wasn’t until my sophomore year at Yale, when I started working with the Berkley College Orchestra, that I was conducting regularly. At that point it was still unclear if I would be able to pursue conducting professionally. Once I was admitted to Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore for graduate school, though, I thought I might have a chance. At Peabody I was studying with a renowned teacher, Gustav Meier, and I had founded an orchestra with a friend called the Occasional Symphony. Things were heading in the right direction.
Right after I graduated from Peabody, I attended the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, which is a program that helps advanced conducting students to prepare for professional jobs. There I studied with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Music Director Robert Spano, who has turned out to be the most influential teacher and mentor I’ve ever had. In between the summers that I worked with Spano, I got my first professional conducting job serving as the Assistant Conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras Program.
This brings me to my current role as the ASO Assistant Conductor and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO). Here in Atlanta my dream of working with a major orchestra has come true. I am very lucky to be able to make music with such inspiring musicians, both of the ASO and the ASYO, and to continue to learn from my mentor.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For me, loneliness is one of the biggest challenges. The nature of the job is I spend a lot of time studying scores at the library, Symphony Hall or while traveling, which leads to a bit of isolation. There is also the challenge of being constantly ready to step in to a high-pressure situation. One of my tasks as the Assistant Conductor is to be prepared to step in to any given ASO performance at the last minute if the scheduled conductor gets sick. This actually happened this season: I had to go on in the middle of a concert without having conducted any of the rehearsals! Still, these struggles could never outweigh how lucky I feel to be able to serve in this position. Being able to work with the world-class musicians of the ASO, and the talented young musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, is an absolute privilege.
Please tell us about Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has served as a leading cultural organization in the Southeast for nearly 74 years. The artistic excellence of the musicians and the top-notch educational programs excite me most about this institution. I love leading the education and family concerts in Symphony Hall. It’s a special feeling to help introduce classical music to young people.
The ASYO is a fantastic example of how the ASO, as an institution, makes an impact on the young people in the greater Atlanta community. This highly competitive ensemble is made up of over 100 talented musicians in grades eight through twelve. With the help from ASO musician coaches, we perform full concerts of professional repertoire throughout the year.
What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
The ASYO is already a premiere youth orchestra of the region, but I am focusing on elevating its artistically even further. There’s no question that the talent is here in Atlanta. I’m working with the ASO musicians who serve as coaches for the Youth Orchestra and the ASO education staff members to make the ASYO the best it can be.
What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.
Outside of music, I was actually pretty big into sports. I love playing soccer and played all through high school. I’m also a Spurs fan and have always enjoyed watching basketball. I love spending time outside running, biking, hiking, and backpacking.
Contact Info:
- Address: Atlanta Symphony Hall
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309 - Website: aso.org
Image Credit:
Jeff Roffman
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