Charles Ansbacher, Founder and Conductor of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Named Conductor Laureate

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees and Overseers of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra announced today that it has honored its founder and conductor, Charles Ansbacher, who is also the artistic director of the Landmarks Festival at the Shell, with the title of conductor laureate.  The board awarded this tribute to recognize Ansbacher's role in making the 2010 season the most successful in its 10-year history at a ceremony at the final concert of the 2010 Landmarks Festival at the Shell on September 1.

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra began the summer season with a historic performance at Fenway Park and built on this success with its Landmarks Festival at the Shell.  The festival featured performances of all of Beethoven's symphonies with the audience averaging around 8,000 to 9,000 people per concert.

Ansbacher formed the Boston Landmarks Orchestra 10 years ago when he realized that during the summer there were limited opportunities to hear orchestral music in the area.  He also recognized that not everyone could afford tickets to an orchestral concert, and he has always believed that art should be accessible to everyone.  

Ansbacher once said, "Producing high quality art like this is expensive; it's just the nature of things, but we are trying to eliminate barriers for future audiences.  So I decided 10 years ago that all our concerts would be free, and I look forward to working with the orchestra to continue this tradition."

This year, working in partnership with 99.5 All Classical, a service of WGBH, audience attendance soared.  From families with children to young adults to the elderly, the orchestra and Ansbacher captured the hearts of all who attended.  

Ansbacher has been serving the Boston community and beyond for many years and has devoted much of his professional life to finding ways to make the arts a significant part of people's lives.  He serves on numerous community-focused nonprofit boards and has received local, national and international awards over the last few years.

For more information, visit the Boston Landmarks Orchestra website at www.landmarksorchestra.org

SOURCE Boston Landmarks Orchestra