Hudson Valley Philharmonic Director Randall Craig Fleischer Dies

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The music director of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic — Randall Craig Fleischer — died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. Fleischer was 61 and originally from the Canton, Ohio, area.

No cause of death has been announced, but there will be an autopsy, WKBN reported.

Fleischer was also the director of the Anchorage Symphony in Alaska and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in Ohio.

The Hudson Valley Philharmonic performed at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie and the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston.

A Facebook post for Bardavon said the organization was devastated by the loss.

"He was much loved by all who knew him and were fortunate enough to create music with him," the post said. "He was the heart and soul of the HVP."

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro said the county was saddened to learn of Fleischer's death.

"I've had the distinct honor of reading the Declaration of Independence during the Philharmonic's past Fourth of July celebrations at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and observed firsthand the devotion and skill Maestro Fleischer brought to his craft," he said in a prepared statement.

"His legacy of breathtaking performances and leadership will live forever in the memory of local patrons, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends," Molinaro said.

Fleischer was the third music director of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, which had its debut as the Dutchess County Philharmonic Orchestra, in 1934.

According to his biography on the Bardavon website, he was an active guest conductor with many major United States orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony and the San Diego Symphony.

Fleischer was also a composer, whose arrangements and orchestral works have been performed worldwide by major orchestras. He has worked with such artists as Natalie Merchant, Blondie, Ani DiFranco and Kenny Rogers.

He studies with Leonard Bernstein as a conducting fellow at Tanglewood in 1989, and served as the assistant conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1989.

Performances by the Hudson Valley Philharmonic during 2020 have been postponed or canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

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