Conductor History

Clark Suttle, assistant conductor of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, replaced one of the candidates and won the music director position. The musicians, however, voted to strike and walked away from their jobs. Many of them backed another candidate. Through a difficult period of negotiations, no settlement was reached. The Association invited all musicians who wished to return to do so, and all vacant positions were replaced.

In only a few weeks, Suttle created an ensemble of high caliber to the delight of the loyal audience. During his thirteen-year tenure, Clark Suttle programmed and conducted more than 260 concerts and presented more than 80 different guest artists. The quality of the school concerts improved. The orchestra began a successful series of chamber ensemble performances and benefit recitals. A new Symphony Chorus was created. Suttle's tenure with the orchestra concluded at the end of the 1997-98 Season.