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Bangor's 'maestro of music' signs on to keep playing a tune for Mainers

"There are two things that you hear about the modern orchestra," said Bangor Symphony Orchestra conductor Lucas Richman. "One is that the audiences are dying off and that the orchestra cannot survive. These are two things that are not happening with the Bangor symphony."

BANGOR, Maine — He's the maestro of Bangor.

Lucas Richman is heading into his 10th season with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra with an ensemble that's in much better shape than the way he found it.

"My mantra is I only want to work with nice people and happy people," said Richman. "I don't have time for divas, and that's what we do. We make beautiful music, and we smile." 

He has expanded the diversity of the orchestra's programming both artistically and organizationally and has just signed on for another five years to continue his work into the future.

"About 20 years ago, I realized that my musical path didn't necessarily have to be in the biggest cities with the biggest orchestras," said Richman.

According to Richman, there are hundreds of symphony orchestras across the country.

He could've landed with nearly any of them.

"Every time I would land in Bangor, I just felt this [sigh of relief] like, 'I'm home'," said Richman. "Still to this day I get that feeling like I'm meant to be here. We love being in Bangor."

Despite going into his 10th season, Richman and his family have only lived in Bangor for five years.

Originally from Los Angeles, Richman has flown all over the world to conduct and still travels for opportunities with orchestras in other cities.

He uses Bangor as his home base.

"I want to be in a place where people love music and they love what I do and I can contribute," said Richman through laughter. "Also, I really just enjoy quiet."

Under Richman's guiding hands, the orchestra has been playing to a tune of no debt. It's music to many ears.

"It's a bit unusual for a city of our size to have an orchestra of this size and quality," said the orchestra's executive director, Brian Hinrichs.

Functioning like an orchestra in a much larger city than Bangor, it has a growing subscriber base and has been able to market itself as a family event to remain relevant in today's society.

"There are two things that you hear about the modern orchestra," said Richman. "One is that the audiences are dying off and that the orchestra cannot survive. These are two things that are not happening with the Bangor symphony."

According to Richman, Bangor has one of the oldest (if not the oldest) continuous-running orchestras in the country.

It's this rich history that has kept it going for 124 years and counting.

"It's not like, 'Okay, we're going to get dressed up and we're going to go to the concert and fall asleep in the dark hall,'" said Richman. "It doesn't have that feeling. I think that's one of the reasons why the orchestra has been sustained all these years because its been a vital force involved in doing what the community wants. It's not just trying to be the Berlin Philharmonic in Bangor. That doesn't make sense. We are the Bangor symphony for the Bangor community." 

"Musicians from around the country really want to play with him and play with this orchestra with Lucas at the helm," added Hinrichs. "He is somebody who our audiences feel a personal connection to. He has such a warm personality and is such a strong communicator about an art form that is oftentimes confusing to people. He really gives you something to grasp onto and makes classical music exciting for a new generation."

Listening to Richman playing solo at the grand piano in his Bangor home, or conducting the ensemble in a final rehearsal before a concert, it's easy to hear why he's so in demand.

The orchestra's upcoming season, being Richman's 10th, has a program made up of specific pieces meaningful to his career and will feature guest musicians Richman is excited to showcase in Bangor.

The season kicks off October 6.

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