The first phase of the Redlands Symphony's Music Director search has crossed the finish line with the selection of three finalists. Each finalist will conduct a concert in the RSO's 25-26 season.
The first finalist to join the Symphony is Kalena Bovell. With her distinctive voice as maestra, speaker, and poet, critics praise Panamanian-American conductor Kalena Bovell as “one of the brightest stars in classical music.” (Channel 3 News, Connecticut). Propelled by a steadfast commitment to musical excellence and community access, her recent achievements include receiving the prestigious 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence—the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization—and making history as the first Black woman to conduct an opera in Canada. The former Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony, her guest conducting engagements both past and future include the Minnesota Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and Orchestre classique de Montréal, while she has collaborated on educational initiatives with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. As a guest clinician, her residencies have included the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory, and The Juilliard School Pre-College.
In October, conductor Deanna Tham joins the Symphony. Powerfully compelling, Deanna Tham is known for her captivating and tenacious spirit on and off the podium. She is currently the Associate Conductor of the Oregon Symphony, Music Director of the Union Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Portland Chamber Orchestra. Previously, Tham was the Assistant Conductor of the Omaha Symphony, following her tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. In 2024 she appeared in the prestigious La Maestra Conducting Competition in Paris, France where she was a semi-finalist. Additional recent engagements include Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO-USA and NYO2) and Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta with Maestro Mei-Ann Chen. Tham is additionally a cover conductor for the San Francisco Symphony. She has performed at the Proms in Royal Albert Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Seiji Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center working with Maestros James Ross, Joseph Young, and Sir Antonio Pappano, as well as renowned artists Isobel Leonard and Joyce DiDonato. Tham has additionally appeared with the Oregon Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Ballet Idaho, Opera Idaho, Orpheus PDX, 45th Parallel, and Present Music Milwaukee. Recent highlights of the include leading the all-women Broadway and Hollywood Sinfoniettas in the world-premiere of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse live with symphonic score, Jacksonville Symphony’s first educational Martin Luther King Jr. tribute concert and the Union Symphony’s first city-community Pops on the Plaza collaboration of Latin American pop and classical music. Her past positions include those with the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Louisville Youth Orchestras, and American Chamber Opera. In 2013, Tham’s work with the National Music Festival was featured on National Public Radio as well as American Public Media.
Finally, a conductor familiar to Redlands Bowl audiences—Roger Kalia—heads to the podium in November. Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic), Indian-American conductor Roger Kalia is a versatile communicator who brings unique and unmistakable energy to the podium. Kalia is now in his sixth season as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic, in his eighth season with Orchestra Santa Monica, and recently completed six seasons with Symphony New Hampshire. He was most recently appointed Music Director of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra beginning in the 2025-26 season. Kalia also serves as Music Director & Co-Founder of the Lake George Music Festival, which has been described as “an unparalleled classical music experience in the Adirondacks” (Chronogram). Upcoming guest engagements include opening Chicago Sinfonietta’s 2025/26 season with Kalia’s own signature Bollywood show, Symphony Masala, and a masterworks debut with the Canton Symphony Orchestra. In recent seasons, Kalia has also appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, Amarillo, and Wheeling.
"We are beyond thrilled to welcome these three talented and community-focused conductors as finalists in the coming season," says Robert Bourne, Chair of the Music Director Search Committee. Symphony Staff and the Music Director Search Committee reviewed 97 applications between September 2024 and January 2025. The Search Committee then reviewed 35 applicants, advancing 18 to the semi-final round. After hour-long interviews with each candidate and months of discussion, the Search Committee recommended these three finalists—Bovell, Tham, and Kalia—to the Board of Directors. "This is such an exciting time for us," remarks Board President Kathy Cencirulo. "While we will miss Ransom's enthusiasm for our musicians and community, we are excited about this next chapter for not just our orchestra, but for the betterment of our community."
Kalena Bovell will conduct FINDING JOY on September 6, 2025 at 7:30PM featuring music by Carlos Simon, George Gershwin, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Deanna Tham will conduct FINDING RENEWAL on October 11, 2025 at 7:30PM featuring music by Gabriella Smith, Hector Berlioz, and Igor Stravinsky.
Roger Kalia will conduct FINDING EXCITEMENT on November 15, 2025 at 7:30PM featuring music by Leonard Bernstein, Anna Clyne, and Pyotr Tchiakovsky.
Tickets are available on July 1st, 2025 online and by calling the Symphony Box Office at 909-587-5565.
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