Conducting Lifelong Love

New Zealand-born conductor Andrew Sewell is in contention to replace the current Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s music director and is profiled ahead of his Springfield audition in the State Journal-Register. Sewell, who lives in Wisconsin, previously led the Wichita Symphony for 10 years, and currently serves as music director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison. As a child, Sewell would travel to Wellington to hear the orchestra. “I loved the orchestra,” Sewell said. “I wanted to play in the orchestra. It just became a very intense interest of mine. It’s a long career, hopefully.” Sewell said it’s important a conductor engages with audiences, either in written concert notes or in person — “I like it when a person talks about a piece and I see their passion for it” — and ensures younger people are introduced to symphonic music. Sewell has lived in the United States since 1988.