Panama City Symphony Orchestra appoints Sergey Bogza as new music director and conductor

PANAMA CITY — After a four-month search, the Panama City Symphony Orchestra has announced Sergey Bogza as its new music director and conductor.

Bogza is the fifth music director and conductor with PCSO, succeeding former director David Ott, who announced his retirement earlier this year. His first appearance will be at the season opener on Oct. 15.

"It is a privilege to be selected as the next music director of the Panama City Symphony Orchestra," Bogza said. "I am proud to join an organization whose values align with my own and work with an incredible symphony to chart new creative territory. I look forward to calling Panama City my new home and growing musically together while serving our audiences with world-class performances."

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Born in Russia into a Russian-Ukrainian family, Bogza comes to his new position with years of experience in the industry in various locations throughout the United States and Europe.

He cultivates a flourishing international presence that has brought him engagements with orchestras, ballet companies and festivals. In addition, he has guest conducted musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra, Virginia Beach Symphony, Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra and Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra.

Most recently, he was music director and conductor of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra in Illinois.

'Orchestras remain one of the most extraordinary performing entities ever created'

He began his music studies at age 12 with trumpet and piano lessons, a "joyful journey" of sharing his love of music. Bogza earned a master's of music degree in orchestral conducting from Central Washington University, and a doctor of musical arts degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Minnesota.

Bogza has been awarded top prizes at international conducting competitions and is an active composer of symphonic and chamber music.

"There was an immediate connection to the vision, the approach to serve the community, and what we want to achieve in the future," he said. "It is my opinion that orchestras remain one of the most extraordinary performing entities ever created."

Denise Cox, PCSO board of directors president and chair of the music director search committee, said she’s confident that Bogza will succeed in his new position.

"Sergey Bogza is a great conductor on a growth trajectory who can take the Panama City Symphony Orchestra to the next level," Cox said.

Now in its 27th season, the PCSO has entertained Bay County audiences with a variety of classical and popular music.

In addition to its regular season, annual educational outreach includes Symphony in the City monthly in the Panama City City Hall rotunda, the Moments with the Maestro lecture series and Music to My Ears, an in-school program targeting third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

PCSO season tickets are available at panamacitysymphony.org. All regular season concerts are performed at the Gretchen Nelson Fine Arts Center, 501 Mosley Drive in Lynn Haven, and will start at 7:30 pm. Reserved seat individual concert ticket price is $35 and will be on sale after Oct. 1. For more information about the concerts, call 850-785-767.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Orchestra announces new music director and conductor