ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 18, 1996 TAG: 9603190010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
The field of candidates for the post of conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra has been narrowed to five finalists, each of whom will conduct the orchestra in one concert during its 1995-96 season. This feature, by Staff Writer Matt Chittum, is intended to give readers and concert-goers a personal glimpse at the man behind the baton while the orchestra and its board are evaluating his professional capabilities.
Name: YONG-YAN HU
Current job: Music Director and Conductor of the Lincoln (Neb.) Orchestra Association and the Duluth-Superior (Minn.) Symphony Orchestra.
Age: 38
Marital status:: Wife, Donna, is a professional flutist. Daughter, Zoe, is 15 months old.
Is it true you used to be in a rock band?:
``Yes, for about a year in China. I was young. We did lots of recordings. I think the music, it's not like heavy metal. I integrated a lot of classical instrumentation... We sounded something like Mannheim Steamroller. Our name was Carol.''
How does your experience as a rock musician help you as a conductor?:
``The only thing is you don't wear sunglasses while you conduct. And you wear tails. Other than that, it's all the same.''
You've been said to do a lot of cooking, mainly Chinese food. What are your best dishes?
``I don't have recipes. I just have fun. I like to cook for my family, my new daughter, Zoe.''
Lots of conductors are doing elaborate stunts to get new people into the concert hall, like wearing costumes. What would you be willing to do along these lines?
``I think, first of all, these things could be instrumental in reaching a certain group of people. But I think the press is misleading the public that that's the way a conductor should be. A conductor should be all things, but the music is what should come first.
``I personally don't object to it. Last Halloween, they dressed me like a vampire. My picture was in the newspaper, and it sold a lot of tickets. It's cool, but, you know, it's Halloween.''
Promoters and newspapers often make puns on your name, like ``Hu's on first'' and ``Who's Hu?'' What's the best one you've seen?
``In Minnesota, they put my picture on a highway billboard, a huge billboard. It said `Guess Hu?' It sold a lot of tickets...The best one was in Minnesota, for a small chamber music series. It said, `Hu Handels Haydn.' That's cool. I think that's a good one.''
Do you ever get tired of all the ``Hu'' puns?
``If other people don't get tired of it, it's fine with me.''
ROANOKE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Tonight at 8 in the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium. With conductor-finalist Yong-Yan Hu. For ticket information, call 343-9127.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Roger Hart. Yong-Yan Hu. color.by CNB