Burrows renamed board chair of Cave Run Symphony Orchestra for 2026-27
Dr. Craig Burrows, a physician-educator at UK-St. Claire, was re-elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra Society at the organization’s annual membership meeting on Sept. 3.
“I’m pleased to have this continuing opportunity to play an active role in the life of our community orchestra as we enter our 13th full season of outstanding music,” said Burrows, starting his sixth year as board chair. “Our supporters are excited about sharing our new principal conductor with the community and we have four wonderful concerts planned this season.””
Maestro Isaac Selya will make his debut as principal conductor of the Cave Run Symphony at the Nov. 8 concert. He was the overwhelming choice in a national search that ended in May.
A doctoral graduate of the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the Cincinnati resident succeeds Dr. Terry Durbin who retired last year after seven seasons as principal conductor.
Concerts and themes for the Orchestra’s new season include “Thanking Our Vets” on Sunday, Nov. 8; “Hometown Holiday” on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m.; “Fire In February” on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.; and “Swords and Side Quests” on Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m.
Also at the annual meeting, three additional persons also were elected to leadership posts. They included Bill Shely, vice chair; Monti Lloyd, secretary; and Dr. Thomas Pappas, treasurer. Keith Kappes was reappointed as business operations manager on a volunteer basis.
Mark Perkins, Pappas and Kappes were re-elected to three-year terms on the 11-member board.
Burrows noted that the CRSO and other community-based arts organizations in Kentucky and the entire nation are more dependent than ever on their communities for financial support in view of the cutbacks in federal funds.
He urges all supporters of the Cave Run Symphony to become more involved by encouraging others to purchase season tickets or make gifts or buy program advertising or underwrite sponsorships while inviting others to experience the beauty of orchestral music.
In other finances, the Orchestra is resuming the sale of branded merchandise this season, starting with locally-sourced T-shirts, with other items to follow.
Morehead and Rowan County are the smallest localities in Kentucky with their own symphony orchestra. The 60-piece ensemble was founded in 2013. It is supported by a dedicated group of individuals and public and private organizations that appreciate orchestral music for its educational and cultural values.
All concerts are performed at the Morehead Conference Center in downtown Morehead. The Orchestra is online at caverunsymphony.org. The telephone message line is 606-784-9894.
The board chair also announced that the Orchestra’s “early bird” season ticket campaign is underway with a price of $35 on all season tickets sold on or before Sunday, Nov. 8. After, the price is $50.
Season and/or individual concert tickets are available online at caverunsymphony.org or by mail at PO Box 441, Morehead, KY 40351 or on weekdays at the Morehead Visitor Center with cash or check.
News Media Contact: Keith Kappes, 606-356-0912
Burrows renamed board chair of Cave Run Symphony Orchestra for 2026-27
Dr. Craig Burrows, a physician-educator at UK-St. Claire, was re-elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra Society at the organization’s annual membership meeting on Sept. 3.
“I’m pleased to have this continuing opportunity to play an active role in the life of our community orchestra as we enter our 13th full season of outstanding music,” said Burrows, starting his sixth year as board chair. “Our supporters are excited about sharing our new principal conductor with the community and we have four wonderful concerts planned this season.””
Maestro Isaac Selya will make his debut as principal conductor of the Cave Run Symphony at the Nov. 8 concert. He was the overwhelming choice in a national search that ended in May.
A doctoral graduate of the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the Cincinnati resident succeeds Dr. Terry Durbin who retired last year after seven seasons as principal conductor.
Concerts and themes for the Orchestra’s new season include “Thanking Our Vets” on Sunday, Nov. 8; “Hometown Holiday” on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m.; “Fire In February” on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.; and “Swords and Side Quests” on Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m.
Also at the annual meeting, three additional persons also were elected to leadership posts. They included Bill Shely, vice chair; Monti Lloyd, secretary; and Dr. Thomas Pappas, treasurer. Keith Kappes was reappointed as business operations manager on a volunteer basis.
Mark Perkins, Pappas and Kappes were re-elected to three-year terms on the 11-member board.
Burrows noted that the CRSO and other community-based arts organizations in Kentucky and the entire nation are more dependent than ever on their communities for financial support in view of the cutbacks in federal funds.
He urges all supporters of the Cave Run Symphony to become more involved by encouraging others to purchase season tickets or make gifts or buy program advertising or underwrite sponsorships while inviting others to experience the beauty of orchestral music.
In other finances, the Orchestra is resuming the sale of branded merchandise this season, starting with locally-sourced T-shirts, with other items to follow.
Symphony supporters are asked to make reservations for the dinner meeting by sending names to caverunsymphony@gmail.com or by calling the CRSO message line at 606-784-9894.
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Selya named maestro of Cave Run Symphony Orchestra
For the second time in its 13-year history, the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra has appointed a new principal conductor.
Dr. Craig Burrows, board chair, and Dr. Lori Baruth, search committee chair, today jointly announced the appointment of Dr. Isaac Selya of Cincinnati.
He succeeds Dr. Terry Durbin of Louisville who held the part-time post for nearly seven years before taking medical retirement last year.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Maestro Selya to the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra following a 10-month search process in which he emerged as the overwhelming choice of our audience and musicians,” Burrows and Baruth said in a joint statement.
Selya said of his appointment:
“I so enjoyed working with the wonderful musicians of the Cave Run Symphony in my audition concert last month and now I am even more excited about this great opportunity to share music with the community going forward.”
Burrows and Baruth commented further on the new conductor’s qualifications:
“This young man is highly sought after as a conductor, entrepreneur, scholar, and educator. He currently is music director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, staff conductor at the Dayton Philharmonic, and founder and artistic director of Queen City Opera in Cincinnati.”
Selya holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale where he was principal cellist of the Yale Symphony and sang in Yale’s Schola Cantorum. He completed a master’s degree in music conducting at the Mannes School of Music and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dr. Selya and his wife, Pin-Hsuan, a violinist, are based in Cincinnati.
He will make his official debut as the new Cave Run maestro at the season-opening concert on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. at the Morehead Conference Center. He also will be guest of honor at a public reception in connection with the Orchestra’s Annual Membership Meeting in September.
Morehead and Rowan County are the smallest city and county in Kentucky with their own community-supported symphony orchestra. The CRSO is a 60-piece ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, music professors and teachers, and highly qualified, auditioned student musicians.
The Orchestra is a federally tax-exempt 501 © 3 charitable organization and a non-profit Kentucky corporation.
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For the second time in its 13-year history, the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra has appointed a new principal conductor.
Dr. Craig Burrows, board chair, and Dr. Lori Baruth, search committee chair, today jointly announced the appointment of Dr. Isaac Selya of Cincinnati.
He succeeds Dr. Terry Durbin of Louisville who held the part-time post for nearly seven years before taking medical retirement last year.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Maestro Selya to the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra following a 10-month search process in which he emerged as the overwhelming choice of our audience and musicians,” Burrows and Baruth said in a joint statement.
Selya said of his appointment:
“I so enjoyed working with the wonderful musicians of the Cave Run Symphony in my audition concert last month and now I am even more excited about this great opportunity to share music with the community going forward.”
Burrows and Baruth commented further on the new conductor’s qualifications:
“This young man is highly sought after as a conductor, entrepreneur, scholar, and educator. He currently is music director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, staff conductor at the Dayton Philharmonic, and founder and artistic director of Queen City Opera in Cincinnati.”
Selya holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale where he was principal cellist of the Yale Symphony and sang in Yale’s Schola Cantorum. He completed a master’s degree in music conducting at the Mannes School of Music and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dr. Selya and his wife, Pin-Hsuan, a violinist, are based in Cincinnati.
He will make his official debut as the new Cave Run maestro at the season-opening concert on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. at the Morehead Conference Center. He also will be guest of honor at a public reception in connection with the Orchestra’s Annual Membership Meeting in September.
Morehead and Rowan County are the smallest city and county in Kentucky with their own community-supported symphony orchestra. The CRSO is a 60-piece ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, music professors and teachers, and highly qualified, auditioned student musicians.
The Orchestra is a federally tax-exempt 501 © 3 charitable organization and a non-profit Kentucky corporation.
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Orchestral Music in the Hills
Based in Morehead, the smallest city in Kentucky with a community-supported symphony orchestra, the Cave Run Symphony was founded in 2013.
It is a 60-piece musical ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, music professors and teachers, and highly qualified, auditioned student musicians.
The Orchestra is operated by the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra Society, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501 ©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts to the CRSO are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The CRSO is funded by gifts, grants, sponsorships, program book advertising, branded merchandise marketing and ticket sales. We welcome support at any time of the year.
Bringing Orchestral Music to the Hills
Based in Morehead, the smallest city in Kentucky with a community-supported symphony orchestra, the Cave Run Symphony was founded in 2013.
It is a 60-piece musical ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, music professors and teachers, and highly qualified, auditioned student musicians.
The Orchestra is operated by the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra Society, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501 ©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts to the CRSO are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The CRSO is funded by gifts, grants, sponsorships, program book advertising, branded merchandise marketing and ticket sales. We welcome support at any time of the year.