Oak Ridge Selects Dan Allcott as Music Director

Conductor Dan Allcott will have his work cut out for him in Oak Ridge next season, and some big shoes to fill, metaphorically speaking.

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, the umbrella organization for the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and the Oak Ridge Chorus, has selected Allcott as its new Music Director and Conductor starting in Fall of 2010. He will be replacing Cornelia Kodkani-Laemmli, who has held the position for five seasons. During her tenure in Oak Ridge, Ms. Kodkani-Laemmli has been very successful in making noticeable improvements in the orchestra and in programming, as well as in keeping audiences entertained.  She is also the Music Director and Conductor of Symphony of the Mountains based in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Allcott is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, a position he has held since 2003. He has also been music director and principal conductor of the Atlanta Ballet since 2000. Allcott holds cello performance degrees from Indiana University and Drake University.

Alan Sherrod serves up a big plate of nourishing commentary on the Knoxville classical music and fine arts scene.