By John Ostapowicz / The Jambar
The search for a new conductor and music director of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra concluded June 6, with the appointment of Maestro Sergey Bogza.
After the death of Randal Fleischer in 2020, the search for his successor lasted four years. Several guest conductors performed with YSO throughout the last two seasons, but Bogza’s application proved to be the perfect fit.
Bogza was born in Russia, into a Russian-Ukrainian family and emigrated to the United States in 1995.
While in Ukraine, Bogza’s access to instruments and music education was limited. When he moved to the U.S., Bogza’s mother recommended him to begin piano lessons, which sparked his interest in music as a career path.
“My music education didn’t start until I moved to the U.S.,” Bogza said. “Thirty minutes into my first piano lesson, I knew that [music] was going to be my life, whether it was going to be easy, difficult or torturous, I was going to spend the rest of my life in this field.”
Between the ages of 10 and 11-years-old, Bogza practiced piano three to four hours a day. The hours of music and work allowed him to put together a youth symphony orchestra, with the help of his father.
Bogza continued his music education with a bachelor’s degree at Portland State University. He went on to receive a Master of Music degree from Central Washington University and his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Minnesota.
Through his career, Bogza held several positions with symphony orchestras, such as a director at Millikin-Decatur Symphony, Wilmar Symphony and the Heartland Symphony Orchestra.
Bogza is under a three-year contract with YSO, but will still serve as the Music Director of the Panama City Symphony as he enters his third year in the role.
His resume also stretches decades with dozens of sold-out shows, several guest appearances as a music conductor and a collaboration with award-winning choreographer Roger Van Fleteren.
With a busy schedule and years of higher education, Bogza said staying busy is the key to success in the world of music.
“You’re either busy or unemployed,” Bogza said. “The more you can stay active, the better it is not only for your resume, but the world of art is always changing. You have to be in it and active to adapt to the times.”
Bogza has had a warm welcome to the Youngstown community. Most recently, he spent the weekend in the Mahoning Valley and interviewed with WKBN, The Business Journal and WYSU 88.5 FM via radio interview.
He also visited Youngstown State University, met with President Bill Johnson and attended the Sept. 7 football game against Valparaiso University.
Bogza said it is important to receive feedback as well as combine both modern and classical pieces to accommodate everyone.
“[Music] is representative of who we are as people, which is just a blend of all of our experiences. People are so much more enthusiastic about being a part of that world,” Bogza said.
The 2024-25 symphony season will commence at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the DeYor Performing Arts Center with “Rhapsody Royale: The Music of Gershwin, Rachmaninoff and Queen.”
For more information about the shows and events by YSO, visit its website at youngstownsymphony.com.
