Carl Topilow has signed a 3-year contract with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra (FSO), based in Huron, OH, which will continue through the 2027-2028 season. Topilow has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra since the 2008-2009 season. In his role, Maestro Topilow is responsible for auditioning and selecting musicians and guest artists, creating the concert themes and programs, and conducting the orchestra to produce the quality music local audiences have come to expect. During his tenure, the orchestra has seen a dramatic rise in quality, prominent guest artists, and the number of subscribers to its concerts.
FSO Board President Nike Mendenhall said of the renewal: “The FSO Board of Directors is so pleased that Maestro Topilow has renewed his contract with the FSO. He brings so much experience to the organization. Our concerts offer so much from favorite pops numbers to well-loved classics. His depth of knowledge about music, how programs are put together, and what the audience likes is unparalleled.”
Topilow, also conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, has performed as guest conductor with 132 different orchestras in 37 states and 12 foreign countries. This May he will be hosting his fifth conducting workshop in Cleveland. Carl’s book, The Orchestral Conductor’s Career Handbook published by Rowman and Littlefield, has been acclaimed by many prominent conductors and educators.
When asked about the decision to continue leading the FSO’s creative direction for the next 3 years, Topilow remarked: “It has been among my most rewarding musical journeys to be part of the development of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, helping to make it into the excellent ensemble that it is today. I look forward to celebrating our next three years together!”
