Evan Roider will embark on his inaugural season with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra this November, opening with a nod to Western history and cultural influences that make up the fabric of Tucson and Southern Arizona. A Louisiana native, Roider grew up immersed in a wide range of musical genres and theater, experiences that helped shape the direction of his musical career.
“My greatest influence is very easily my grandmother. She had me on her lap at age two at the piano. Then, growing up, she was a wonderful singer; she loved classical music but also took me to the musicals at the same time as the symphony and opera. Forever, I’ve been influenced by all of those genres.”
He arrives in Tucson after spending the last few years working in Broadway, particularly touring with Wicked before securing his first position with an American symphony orchestra here in Tucson as Principal Pops Conductor. His tenure begins a new chapter in a long history of TSO Pops concerts.
“I am from the Baton Rouge area, so you have the jazz influence, and everybody embraces all the different styles of music. Even in my personal life, I live right outside of New York City, so Friday I’m going to Birdland to listen to jazz, but then I’ll be at the Met the next night. I was always told that at some point you’re going to have to choose what kind of music you want to do. I don’t think that’s true at all.”
Pops concerts embrace just that. The LIVE@theRonstadt Pops series will combine popular genres in the concert hall in new ways. After opening with Howdy Tucson celebrating Western music, the season will also feature iconic film scores by Hans Zimmer and John Williams, along with rock music reimagined by the TSO.