Hundreds gather at Orchestra Hall to remember Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
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Fans, friends and family gathered in Minneapolis Tuesday afternoon for a memorial concert celebrating the life and career of Minnesota Orchestra Conductor Laureate Stanislaw Skrowaczewski.
He was remembered as music director at the orchestra for 19 years in the 1960s and '70s, and for leading the effort to build Orchestra Hall. After stepping down as music director he became conductor laureate, and appeared regularly with the orchestra, including a concert in October.
He died last month at age 93.
Principal Cellist Tony Ross recalled how important Skrowaczewski was to the musicians during the prolonged lockout that ended in 2015.
"Stan was our mentor during that time. He was our guru. He was our beacon," Ross said. "We all looked to him for inspiration for our art, for great orchestral music. And this orchestra is still here today because of him, in many ways."
Skrowaczewski was a composer in his own right, Orchestra Board Chair Marilyn Carlson Nelson said. She remembered him as an orchestra leader.
"His compositions are nothing less than a gift of himself to the future," she said. "We have his music, but we mourn his loss. We have lost a great soul."