FRANKFORT, Ky. — As part of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) American Residency in Kentucky, the Kentucky Arts Council will present a forum for arts leaders, educators and supporters at 10 a.m. EST, Feb. 23, 2011, at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. Third St., Lexington, Ky.

Principal speakers Hugh Wolff, NSO residency conductor, and Rita Shapiro, NSO executive director, will lead the discussion followed by a question and idea session moderated by Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. The forum is free and open to the public.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Kentucky stakeholders in the arts to tap into a knowledge base of national and international experience,” said Meadows. “The whole NSO residency, with so many performances and educational activities, is a wonderful gift to Kentucky.”

Wolff is an American conductor with a global perspective. Born in Paris to American parents and educated at Harvard, he spent almost a decade at the helm of the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Frankfurt, Germany. Among the leading conductors of his generation, Wolff has appeared with all the major North American orchestras and throughout Europe. Wolff began his professional career in 1979 as associate conductor of the NSO under Mstislav Rostropovich. Wolff currently lives in Boston, where his work includes a major teaching commitment at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Shapiro has served as executive director of the NSO since 2002. She has primary oversight of all operational, programming and artistic initiatives of the orchestra. She also has extensive experience in community involvement, orchestra operations, touring, fundraising and development and as a liason with volunteer organizations.

The National Symphony Orchestra American Residencies is a unique national initiative encompassing the elements of education, outreach and chamber and orchestral performances. American Residencies are sponsored in part by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Duke Energy is the Supporting Sponsor of the 2011 NSO Kentucky Residency. Chamber music concerts and outreach activities are supported in part by generous contributors to The Kennedy Center Abe Fortas Memorial Fund for Chamber Music and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, is the in-state partner for the National Symphony Orchestra American Residencies program for 2011. Coordination of these activities creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

- ### -