Topilow signs new 3-year contract with orchestra

SANDUSKY — Firelands Symphony Orchestra has locked in the orchestra's popular music director, Carl Topilow, for another three years. Topilow, the orchestra's music director and conductor, has inked a new three-year contract to stay. His new deal spans the orchestra's 2027-2028 season. Other details of the contract weren't announced. Topilow released a statement highlighting how happy his experiences have been in Erie County. "It has been among my most rewarding musical journeys to be part of the development of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, helping to make it into the excellent ensemble that it is today," Topilow said. "I look forward to celebrating our next three years together." Known for his eclectic programs that include classical music, pop music and movie soundtracks, Topilow has been the orchestra's music boss since the 2008-09 season, picking the guest artists, auditioning and selecting musicians and creating concert themes and programs. Local orchestra fans know to look forward to annual holiday concerts during the Christmas season and concerts honoring veterans in November. Topilow is widely credited with building up the orchestra's abilities and the orchestra's local following. While Topilow waves the baton during concerts, he's also been known to pull out his clarinet and perform, too. Additionally, he's also the conductor and founder of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. He taught for decades at the Cleveland Institute of Music and his many connections with the Cleveland music scene has allowed him to pull in many excellent guest artists for Firelands Symphony concerts. Topilow's conducting experience isn't limited to the Firelands orchestra and Cleveland Pops. He conducted the Cleveland Institute of Music orchestra for decades and has put in guest conductor stints in about three dozen U.S. states and in 12 foreign countries. Topilow also finds time for hobbies such as travel, learning foreign languages, golf, and reading and he's the author of a book on conducting, "The Orchestral Conductor's Career Handbook." Nike Mendenhall, president of the orchestra's board, said the board is happy Topilow agreed to stay on. "Our concerts offer so much from favorite pops numbers to well-loved classics. His depth of knowledge about music, how programs are put together, and what the audience likes is unparalleled," Mendenhall said.