First Words from Chuck Stewart
Pam Hahn and Chuck Stewart
Preparing for the June 2025 Musical Notes newsletter, I asked Chuck to give us some insight into his planning for our 2025-26 season, who he is as a musician and what he's doing with himself this summer.
Q. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the musicians of CSO, I want to welcome you as our interim conductor for the coming season! It would be great if our audience could know a bit about you before our first concert on September 7. Aside from your official bio, please tell us why orchestral music is an important part of your life.
A. Music has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Oklahoma, my parents always had country music playing in the car. I loved to sing and said I wanted to be a country artist like Garth Brooks. As I matured into a rebellious teenager, my love for country music faded away, but my love for music stayed constant. Instead of my interest turning to pop, rock, hip-hop or rap like many of my peers, I found comfort and joy in orchestral music. As a horn player, my first classical CDs were of the Mozart, Strauss, and Hindemith Horn Concerti, as well as the American Horn Quartet’s self-titled album. My interest in horn focused music quickly expanded to more full scale works by Bernstein, Copland, Holst, Stravinsky, Beethoven, and more. By the time I was a Senior in High School, I knew I wanted to make music my life as a conductor. I spent the next 6 years in school honing my craft as a conductor, hornist, and educator. Like many, these 6 years were pivotal in shaping the musician and person I am today. I owe the entirety of my love for orchestral music to my many music teachers throughout middle, high, undergraduate, and graduate school. Today, orchestral music continues to play an important role in my life personally, but it plays an even bigger role now as a conductor and teacher. I now get to serve as the messenger about orchestral music to audiences and students alike. Additionally, now that my son is 3, he is starting to show interest in orchestral music. It is inspiring to see him enjoy a piece of music I have always loved.
Q. You have programmed an interesting mixture of familiar classics and some fresh, new music for 2025-26. What went into your choices of repertoire and how important is it to include contemporary works?
A. My goal for this season was to present a program that was diverse and enjoyable for both the audience and the musicians on stage. I’m excited to perform some works with the orchestra that haven’t been performed in several years, while also programming new works that have never been performed by the CSO. Despite what its name might suggests, classical music is a living organism that needs to be nurtured with new works for the medium. While it is important to program the “classics,” it is equally as important to program works by a diverse group of contemporary composers. As classical music lovers, we want this medium to continue to thrive, and programming new works is one of the best ways to help it grow.
Q. You are not new to Chandler Symphony. Tell us how we first met you and how you have continued to work with CSO in the past few years.
A. I first became associated with the CSO during the 2018-2019 season as one of the finalists for the vacant Music Director position. My wife and I had just moved to Chandler in the summer of 2018, and I was thrilled to immediately get to connect with an incredible community of talented musicians in our new home. I had an amazing time conducting the CSO in their March 2019 concert on Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, as well as working with Lisa Tharp Friedeman and Pam Hahn on the Lowell Liebermann Concerto for Flute and Harp, and sharing my passion of Acadia National Park and DownEast Maine with a new piece by William White called Acadia Fanfare. (Fun fact: Will was just named Music Director of the Sedona Symphony!) Like many people after the pandemic, I was longing for in-person connections. I reached out to the CSO and asked if I could join the horn section as a sub when needed. I have been able to play a number of concerts with the CSO as a member of the horn section and love it. In 2023 and 2024, I was able to conduct the Deck the Holidays concert. It was so fun to work with the orchestra on holiday classics that so many love. Last season, I volunteered to organize the Chamber Music Series. It was important to me that we keep the concept of the Musician’s Choice concerts, but I wanted the orchestra musicians to have the opportunity to perform chamber works for larger ensembles. Because of this, I programmed and conducted the return of the CSO Chamber Orchestra concert, in addition to organizing the two Musician’s Choice concerts. I’m excited to continue working with the CSO this season in a new role!
Q. You have some “free” time this summer until school starts up again. What are you planning to do for fun?
A. Whatever my 3-year-old wants to do? HA! We visited my family in Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend, and we’ll be going out to California for the 4th of July to visit some of my wife’s family. My wife and I love musical theater in addition to classical music, so while in California, we have tickets to see the national tour of Parade in LA. Other than that, I’m looking forward to some downtime to prepare for a busy concert season and school year ahead. I’m already diving into the music for the first concert!