Coeur d’Alene Symphony maestro to lead free conducting workshop at Holy Names Music Center

If you’ve ever wondered what an orchestra conductor does besides waving a baton in front of a group of musicians, you can find out at an upcoming workshop at Holy Names Music Center.

On Jan. 10, Jan Pellant, artistic director and conductor of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, will lead a free seminar about the roles and responsibilities of a conductor.

“He’s a very interesting young man with an exuberant passion for conducting,” said Suzanne Bjork, executive director at Holy Names. “The Coeur d’ Alene Symphony is fortunate to have him.”

The event is open to everyone from student musicians to fans of orchestral music. Topics will include the importance of a conductor, what the conductor does behind the scenes, the greatest conductors, and how a student musician can become a guest conductor of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.

Pellant, a native of the Czech Republic, studied at the Prague Academy of the Performing Arts, and earned degrees from the Prague Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon University.

He served as music director of the Lexington Chamber Orchestra in Kentucky, and has conducted with a number of symphonies including the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic and has also led concert tours in Romania, China and France.

But he vividly remembers the first time he conducted.

“I was 16 in Japan,” he recalled. “I was violist with a youth orchestra and had the opportunity to conduct.”

He was hooked.

“It’s very mystical,” Pellant said. “Why do people go to live concerts? It’s because something special happens. A conductor can create a magical atmosphere.”

And the tools of his trade are not limited to a baton.

“A conductor uses his eyes, his energy,” he explained. “He creates his own sound. The worst thing a conductor can be is boring!”

Bjork said the seminar fits with the mission of Holy Names Music Center to offer quality music education for all.

Pellant has led previous workshops at the music center, and said he’s delighted to return.

“I feel like this is one big family from Coeur d’Alene to Sandpoint to Spokane – we share the community of music,” he said.

Bjork stressed the event will appeal to everyone from novice to experienced musicians – anyone who wants to understand what an artistic director and conductor does.

“Every time we do something like this, someone is thrilled and tells us their life has been changed,” she said.