Continuity and Opportunity: A Special Year for MYS Symphony
MYS Artistic Director Mark Mandarano has announced a one-year sabbatical from Macalester College and from his role as Symphony Orchestra conductor. This provides a meaningful opportunity for professional growth, as well as the chance for the orchestra to be led by three exciting world-class guest conductors. Mark, Executive Director Tony Thomann, and Board Chair Jon Feustel discuss what this change means for students, families, and the future of MYS.
Mark, what did you do during your last sabbatical, and how did it shape you as a musician?
Mark Mandarano, Artistic Director: During my 2017–18 sabbatical, my foremost activity was studying scores that I don’t have the time to study while I am busy with other duties during a typical year. I studied quite a few operas in an uninterrupted fashion, day after day (Tristan und Isolde, Fidelio, Un Ballo in Maschera among others). I was, of course, also able to attend performances and rehearsals to really see and hear how things were approached differently in other places, such as Rome, Venice, Naples, Turin, Zurich, Munich and other cities. Although I performed less than I normally would, I was able to undertake a multi-city tour of Russia with an all-Bernstein program; I also performed Mahler’s 4th Symphony in New York and I assisted Sir Anthony Pappano as he recorded all of the Bernstein symphonies in Rome. Immersing myself in all of these diverse music-making adventures is like stockpiling a treasury of sounds and images and experiences that one can draw on for years afterward.
Tony, what does this transition mean for MYS families and students day to day?
Tony Thomann, Executive Director: The most important thing to know is that MYS will continue exactly as before with auditions, rehearsals, sectionals, and concerts all running on schedule at Macalester. Our staff, Board, and Mark are aligned in keeping everything humming at the high level of care that our community expects.
Jon, how does the Board view Mark’s sabbatical in the larger life of the organization?
Jon Feustel, Board Chair: Periodic sabbaticals are a healthy and normal part of academic and artistic life, and we see this as a meaningful investment in Mark’s long-term growth. The Board fully supports this plan and is confident in the strength of MYS during the year ahead.
What are you most looking forward to during this upcoming year away from the podium?
Mark: For quite a long time, I have had a curiosity about the history of orchestral music in the USA, especially from the period before Dvořák came to America up through the early 1900s. When we think about it, we regularly perform music from the 1930s onward, music written by Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein and many others – but we’re generally not as familiar with what came before. During my sabbatical, I plan to delve into the music of this time and write about what I discover. Hopefully, I can create a kind of guidebook for other conductors and administrators which will act as a catalyst to reevaluate this music.
What was MYS looking for when selecting guest conductors for the Symphony Orchestra?
Mark: The trio of conductors coming in to work with the Symphony Orchestra are all distinguished artists of the highest quality. Each conductor has a distinct point of view with particular specialties, yet they all share an abundant enthusiasm and expertise in the education and training of young musicians. I want us to provide the students with the truly unique opportunity and challenge of learning about music from multiple perspectives. And I believe it only strengthens MYS to broaden its connections with the finest musical leaders in the area.
What would you like the MYS community to know about this change?
Jon: While we’re excited for Mark to take a sabbatical as Symphony Conductor, he will continue to actively participate and lead MYS throughout the 2026–27 season in his role as Artistic Director for the organization. We’re excited to have remarkable guest artists conduct our Symphony program. Our students will be in excellent hands, and the organization will remain strong, stable, and thriving.
How will you continue to work with MYS even while you’re physically away?
Mark: Oh, I am planning to keep up a very active involvement in MYS! This group is so important to me that I want to be sure everything is going smoothly and according to plan. I will oversee the auditions this summer and will be in contact with the conductors to make sure the repertoire is appropriate and balanced (and fun!) for the students. Tony and I will have our regular meetings and all of the conductors know that we will remain in contact to make the right choices for students at all levels of the organization.
What excites you most about the year ahead?
Tony: This is a unique moment for the Symphony Orchestra to grow through fresh leadership while remaining grounded in the strong foundation Mark has built. It’s truly an ambitious and inspiring plan for our students.
What can students and families anticipate when Mark returns in September 2027?
Jon: Mark will return with renewed energy, new insights, and fresh artistic ideas to share with the orchestra. We believe this experience will make the Symphony even stronger in the seasons to come.
