New conductor debuts at Music in the Mountains

We headed to the Amaral Center last night to check out conductor Gregory Vajda in his inaugural season at Music in the Mountains — this time conducting Viennese waltzes.

Even if you’re not a regular concert-goer, this season is an MIM milestone: Vajda is only the second conductor in MIM’s 28-year history, inheriting the baton from Paul Perry. MIM is a long-standing Sierra music institution. (Perry was there, sitting near us).

In the season opener, Gregory showed himself to be a talented conductor — with a sense of humor.

He conducted arrangements including “Roses from the South,” “Treasure Waltz,” “Lagoon Waltz” and “Wine, Women and Song” with a confident, fluid style.

There also was a dance floor where professional dancers waltzed, and the audience was invited to participate.

Gregory showed some humor, eating a Sacher Torte onstage and inviting the audience to join him at intermission.

Gregory was born in Budapest, and he studied clarinet and conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. He conducted the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Oregon Symphony before being appointed Artistic Director of Music in the Mountains.

This year, MIM will present a Spring, Summer and Winterfest. Some of the music is informal, such as the traditional Fourth of July “pops” concert.