Conductor Carl Topilow

Online registration is now open for the Firelands Symphony Orchestra’s Virtual Winter Blues Buster Series with FSO Conductor Carl Topilow and Chorale Director Michael Shirtz. Each six-week session is free of charge and will be held on Zoom as an interactive experience with the organization’s musical leaders.

Registration is available through the FSO Website at firelandssymphony.secure.force.com/ticket#/.

Chorale Director Michael Shirtz

Topilow’s series, titled “Conversations with Carl: A Personal Tour of His Orchestral Conductors’ Career Handbook,” will be held every two weeks on Thursdays at 7 p.m. from Jan. 14 through March 18. In this series, participants will get a personal preview of Carl’s new book while opening a door into his extraordinary musical world.

In each session, Carl will share stories of his experiences and best practices combined with his unique sense of humor and riveting talent on the clarinet. From his early motivations and his first conducting opportunities to his conducting gestures and musical programming development, these sessions promise insight, enlightenment and entertainment.

To be held every two weeks on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19, Shirtz’s series will  “Celebrate David Brubeck’s Centennial,” as FSO reflects on the 100th birthday for the jazz pianist, composer, and incomparable ambassador of cool, which was on Dec. 6. As a jazz pianist and composer himself, Shirtz has remained deeply influenced by the innovation of Brubeck’s keyboard styles and is prepared to take participants on a wide-ranging conversation through Brubeck’s incredible career which spanned musical genres, decades, and continents.

Guest musicians from the Michael Shirtz Quartet (MSQ) will join in on some of the discussions.

For more details, visit www.FirelandsSymphony.com or Facebook.com/FirelandsSymphony, call 419-621-4800 or email FSO@FirelandsSymphony.com.