June 29, 2007

Concert marks 30 years

by Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News
 

It seems impossible that boyish-looking Carl Topilow has served with the National Repertory Orchestra for 30 years.

"It's actually been 34 years," he said, pointing to his brief stint as assistant conductor, beginning in 1972.

Tonight in the Riverwalk Center, Topilow leads his Breckenridge- based group in a concert celebrating his three decades as music director.

A lot has changed in 30 years. Founded in 1960, the orchestra is still peopled by hand-picked players ages 18 to 28. But it has moved from its humble beginnings in Estes Park to Evergreen, then to Keystone and finally, in 1992, to its present home in Breckenridge. Along the way, it changed its name from Blue Jeans Symphony to Colorado Philharmonic and finally to NRO.

Topilow pointed out another constant in the orchestra, besides the age range: "The talent level remains high . . . Everyone onstage is serious about a career in music."

Topilow's musicians have demonstrated that they have the chops. Former orchestra members have moved to professional ensembles by the hundreds. A glance at the NRO's Web site reveals that, only recently, 11 alumni have won positions around the country, as players, conductors or administrators.

"I'm honest with them about the challenges of the industry, but I don't want to be pessimistic," Topilow said. "I want to create a great atmosphere for making music."

The message is simple, he explained: "I tell them, 'Unless you're passionate about music, don't do it.' That's the way it was with me. . . . Music is all I ever wanted to do."

A fine clarinetist, Topilow fell in love with conducting early. He's the co-founder of the Cleveland Pops and has served as conductor and teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Music for more than 25 years.

But his tenure with the NRO holds a special place for him.

"I think one of the things that makes (the festival in Breckenridge) work is that I'm here. I'm not an absentee music director; I work every day with them, helping the players develop solid skills."

Quality has remained a high priority in the orchestra, which each summer traverses a mind-boggling range of repertory.

Topilow understands that an audience can be stretched by programming unusual or difficult works, and he has pursued fresh ways to offer that unfamiliar music.

"That's been the biggest change - the way we present concerts," he said, pointing to the use of slide projections and supertitles.