Arie Lipsky to Speak at Ashland University’s Spring Commencement

Arie Lipsky, a native of Haifa, Israel, and currently music director and conductor of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, will present the address at Ashland University’s spring commencement ceremony set for 10 a.m. on May 5 in Miller Stadium, located at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex off Broad Street.

Faculty and students who are participating in the ceremony are to assemble on the soccer field located southwest of Miller Stadium at 9 a.m. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in Kates Gymnasium and faculty and student lineup will be in the Conard Field House.

The ceremony will be broadcast live in the Student Center Eagles’ Nest, the Student Center Auditorium and the Schar COE Ronk Lecture Hall. Those planning to attend the buffet luncheon following the commencement should contact Dining and Conference Services at 419-289-5249. The luncheon will be served beginning at 12 noon in Upper Convo.

No tickets are needed for a ceremony at Miller Stadium, however, if it is moved inside to Kates Gymnasium graduates are limited to four tickets each. The tickets are included with the graduation packets that graduates pick up in the bookstore.

Lipsky is a native of Haifa, Israel, and it was there that he received extensive training as a cellist and as a flutist. When he was nine, he won the first of many prestigious musical competitions allowing him to solo with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. After this success, he began to appear in concerts throughout Israel and Europe. Lipsky subsequently began serious study of composition and conducting. His mentors include Semyon Bychkov, Yoel Levi and Kurt Mazur in conducting and Pablo Casals and Leonard Rose on cello. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Music, which he received before serving in the Israeli armed forces as a tank commander.

After moving to the United States, Lipsky served as Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and graduated from there with distinction. During this period he also assumed conducting responsibilities with the Ohio Light Opera. He moved to Buffalo in 1984 to become the Philharmonic's principal cellist and, in 1990, also became the Resident Conductor, a position he held for 12 years.

He was a prize winner in the Chicago Cello Society Competition and performed as principal cellist with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Opera and the Colorado Music Festival. Lipsky has performed as cellist with the New Arts Trio since 1996. He is Director of Chamber Music in the Chautauqua School of Music.

Maestro Lipsky is currently in his 16th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. He is also in his 12th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Symphony. He is also a frequent conductor with orchestras in Europe, Israel and North America.

Education and outreach are key drivers to Lipsky’s musical vision. Last season he visited over 3,000 youngsters in classrooms and coached orchestral and band classes in a five-county area around Ann Arbor. He continues the important side-by-side concert programs with the Pinckney and Saline Public Schools.

Lipsky records on the Fleur de Son Classics label. His CD, “New Arts Trio in Recital at Chautauqua” was reviewed by Fanfare Magazine: “I’ll affirm that this is one of the most interesting and exciting discs of piano trios, or any chamber music, or any classical music I have ever heard.” Other critically acclaimed CD recordings include Schubert Overtures and Concertos by Sierra and Bruch, Guitar Concerti with the Castellani-Andriaccio Duo and the Israel Chamber Orchestra.

Lipsky currently lives in Buffalo and has an active family life with his wife Rachel, son Gilad, and daughter Inbal.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.