It literally was old home week as Kirk Trevor returned to Knoxville last week to conduct the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra as part of its 75th anniversary season.
Kirk Trevor and his daughter Chloe, right, embrace Laura Dotson-Petras, who worked at the KSO when Trevor was music director here.
Trevor, who was named music director emeritus when he concluded his 18-year stint as conductor of the KSO in 2003, came back with his 23-year-old daughter, Chloe Trevor, to wow audiences at the Moxley Carmichael Masterworks with performances of Beethoven and Prokofiev works. Chloe is an acclaimed violinist who already has won numerous honors and awards. She performed as a soloist during Beethoven’s Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61, and sat in with the violin section for Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100. Kirk Trevor conducted the entire evening, which also included Arnold Bax‘s Overture to Adventure.
The week of rehearsals and performances was a time for Maestro Trevor to reconnect with musicians with whom he had worked for many years and also with certain Symphony Board members with whom he was close during his tenure. “He was very excited about going to eat at Chesapeake’s because he loves the crab cakes there!” laughed Rachel Ford, executive director of the KSO. She and current KSO music director, Lucas Richman, joined Trevor for that meal at Chesapeake’s. He also made it a point to dine at The Orangery with some board members and to take his two youngest children, 4-year-old Sylvia Elizabeth Trevor and 2-year-old Daniel Christopher Trevor, to the Knoxville Zoo, along with his wife, Maria Duhova.
Thursday night Trevor was honored with a reception in the upstairs lobby of the Tennessee Theatre following the Masterworks concert that night. Even though Alan and I had tickets to Friday’s concert, we made it a point to stop by the reception to say hello. Kirk, Chloe and Maria (whose nickname is Micah) seemed to be in great spirits as everyone asked to pose with them.
These days, Trevor is conductor of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (since 1988) and the Missouri Symphony (since 2000). He is one of the most recorded conductors of the past decade and he is widely recognized as one of the leading conducting teachers. He and his family have homes in Columbia, Missouri, and Bratislava, Slovakia.
Click here for the News Sentinel’s excellent review of the concert. Following are some photos from the reception.
From left, Kirk Trevor and violinists Norris Dryer and Sean Claire at the reception
Symphony League members Jackie Newman, left, and Rose Moseby pose with Chloe Trevor, center.
Alan Carmichael chats with his friend Henrietta Grant Thursday at the Tennessee Theatre.
Singer Nancy D'Andrea and Kirk Trevor
Janet Vail, left, and Bettye Gilreath at the party
Kirk Trevor and Bill Brewer of the Knoxville Choral Society
Violinist Sean Claire and singer Margaret Cox
KSO Executive Director Rachel Ford and lawyer Todd Moody
Dr. Robert Harvey and his wife, Edwina, visit with Kirk Trevor
It's a friendly bunch! Lisa Cosse of the KSO staff kisses honorary director David Traver.
Kirk Trevor and his wife, Maria Duhova
Nancy D'Andrea, left, and Stacy Moody of the Symphony League
Todd Moody and one of my favorite bartenders, Jane George
From left, David Traver, Rachel Ford, Mark and Cathy Hill
So sorry to have missed these concerts! I was unable to attend. I wondered what Maestro Trevor’s reaction to the restored Tennessee Theatre, especially the improved backstage and dressing rooms. If you remember the old, it is quite different now!