The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera announces Hunter Wilburn as the recipient of the 2021/22 Kayoko Dan Conducting Scholarship. Mr. Wilburn will work one-on-one with CSO Music Director Kayoko Dan to learn score study techniques, orchestral management and leadership and rehearsal techniques.
Mr. Wilburn is a graduate of Signal Mountain Middle High School and a former member of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestra. He has studied violin under CSO Associate Concertmaster Josh Holritz and is currently a senior in violin performance at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and he hopes to pursue graduate studies in orchestral conducting. “I was a member of the Chattanooga Youth Symphony for seven years, and I have watched Maestro Dan with the symphony for most of my musical life,” says Mr. Wilburn. “When I finally realized that I wanted to pursue a career in conducting, I always dreamed that working with the CSO would be part of that journey. Through this scholarship, I am able to make that dream a reality.”
“As a young conductor, I had a number of mentors who devoted countless hours to guide me through this unique profession,” says Mr. Dan. “I will never be able to pay them back, but I am grateful for the opportunity to 'pay it forward' through this scholarship. I look forward to working with a CSOYO alum who has shown such tremendous drive to learn the craft of conducting.”
In addition to his studies with Mr. Dan, Mr. Wilburn will also receive a $500 scholarship and a free ticket to all CSO Chamber and Masterworks performances for the 2021/22 season. For more information about the Kayoko Dan Conducting Scholarship, visit http://www.chattanoogasymphony.org/conducting-scholarship.