The mostly volunteer Columbus Symphony Orchestra named William McClain of Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, as the seventh music director in its 100-year history.
Starting on July 1, McClain will become the orchestra's director as it enters its 102nd season, making it one of the state's oldest ensembles. The upcoming season will host concerts in October and December 2024, February, April, and June 2025.
McClain will succeed Josh Aerie, who served in the role for eight years before leaving to focus more on his cello career. This past season, McClain was among several music director finalists who led a concert that included a program of works he had personally chosen.
He has played at major U.S. and abroad venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Sheremetev Palace in St. Petersburg, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
"I am so honored to be the next music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra of Indiana!" McClain wrote on his Facebook page. "It is such a fun group of musicians. I can't wait for what's coming next."
He conducted the ensemble in its season-ending performance on Sunday, June 2 at The Commons. Days before, he said in an interview with Republic that his role as an associate professor of music at Millikin University would be ideal for mentoring and instructing primarily non-professional musicians from diverse backgrounds.
Furthermore, he currently performs on viola with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra in Georgia. He was a former member of the Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.
McClain is also starting his fifth season as the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra's conductor and music director.
"William is very encouraging, and he can work with the orchestra in a way that is very special," Rachel Wilkin, the local symphony's past board president and the music director search committee co-chair, said. "He has a background working with a variety of other community groups. With that background, he's possesses a of things that we were looking for in a conductor."
