Chelsea-san Featured in the Toledo City Paper

(Taken from the Toledo City Paper. You may click on the title above for the link to the article.)

Toledo says goodbye to the Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s resident conductor, Chelsea Tipton II

It’s all about the music. That’s the mantra Chelsea Tipton II, Resident Conductor for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, has lived. The son of two music teachers from North Carolina, he was inspired at an early age to expose young people to music. Tipton began conducting while studing clarinet at the Eastman School of Music. He became so enamored with the power of an orchestra that he continued on to earn a Masters of Music in orchestral conducting from Northern Illinois University. After many years of teaching and conducting, Tipton settled into his role with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, one that he has held for seven seasons.

But the end of the 2009-2010 Season marks a close in this movement of the symphony that is Tipton’s life. Over the last year he has doubled as TSO’s conductor and as Music Director for the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. He will make the latter his full-time pursuit next season. “This is a bittersweet moment,” said Tipton. “Toledo is my home.”

“I remember my first concert in the Peristyle [in the Toledo Museum of Art]. It’s my favorite moment. We played Pines of Rome, featuring the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps. It had all of this offstage brass surrounding the audience for the crescendo. It was so loud. The audience leapt to their feet. My parents were there. Great, great, great moment.”

“I have grown so much since that concert,” continued Tipton. “One of the blessings of the position is that you are always busy: music, concerts, endless opportunities to hone your skills. I think I’m a better conductor now than when I started, as well as more able to connect with the audience. I feel I owe much of that to the excellent group of musicians in this orchestra.”

Supplementing Tipton’s love for the symphony is a passion for martial arts. “I’ve also grown by studying Aikido, which promotes a philosophy of peace to resolve conflict. This is a life principle I apply to all areas of my life, including conducting,” he said in preparation of his black belt test in early June.

Being the face of TSO for nearly a decade, Tipton has worked diligently to connect the symphony with the community. “Some orchestras, certainly not this one, have an air of distance about them. ‘This music is for special people.’ But I have the philosophy that music is for everyone, and this orchestra does better than almost any at bringing music to the people.”



What will you miss most about Toledo?
The main thing that I will miss is the level of music making we are able to achieve with the TSO. The orchestra plays so well, and it is an absolute job to work with these musicians week to week.

What restaurant do you visit to treat yourself?
My favorite restaurant is Chipotle. I eat there 2-3 times a week. Good clean healthy food.

What has inspired you while living in Toledo?
I love the martial arts scene here in Toledo. That is how I spend a good part of my free time when not with the TSO.

Chelsea will be a guest at WGTE FM Radio (91.3 FM) this Friday, June 11, from 1 to 3 PM. Please tune in!