A day before Anthony Princiotti conducted the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra in its seasonal concert, students were fighting for his job in a meeting with Lenore Grenoble, the associate dean of the faculty for the humanities.
In a Friday afternoon meeting, students voiced their concerns over the recent decision not to retain Princiotti as a private violin instructor in the music department, a position he has held for 12 years.
One by one, the 29 students and community members in attendance spoke about Princiotti's skill and value as a teacher and music guru. Many also endorsed Princiotti's talent as a performer in order to contradict speculations that the administration has let Princiotti go, because they believe he is not talented or famous enough as a performer.
Representing the College, Grenoble listened intently to student complaints but answered few questions and offered little insight into why Princiotti was not rehired.
"I'm sorry to be in a position where I am not able to tell you what you want, but this is a private matter, and as such I will really not be able to answer questions or promise anything," Grenoble said. "I will just remind you that I have not given any statement about why we made this decision so any speculations are unverified."
Jenny Crist '07, an oboist in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, organized the meeting as one of several last-ditch attempts to hang onto the man she called the greatest thing the music department has to offer.
"I appeal to you -- please reverse this decision, and don't take away the main reason I came to Dartmouth," Crist said after talking extensively about Princiotti's impact on the whole music department.
In addition to his employment as a violin instructor, Princiotti also volunteered to coach the woodwind quartet and other student groups.
Above all, students expressed frustration that they had not been involved in the decision-making process that resulted in Princiotti's firing, because Princiotti played such a central role in their lives.
When Grenoble declined to answer how much student input the administration has considered, orchestra manager Brian Ferguson '04 questioned the purpose of course evaluations.
"I'm sure he has glowing evaluations, so I find it strange that the College should let him go. Some people on the administration are saying that he's an inadequate performer," Ferguson said. "I don't know if you've heard him play, but we have, and we are musicians, and I think we are all very impressed."
Several violin students are considering signing a petition stating that they will continue taking private lessons with Princiotti instead of with a new violin instructor.
Princiotti is set to retain a separate contract as the conductor of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra at the Hopkins Center, where he led the orchestra Saturday night in a performance of "La Clemanza de Tito."
Princiotti, who trained at the Julliard School, Tanglewood and the Yale School of Music, also serves as the music director and conductor of the Manchester-based New Hampshire Philharmonic and as a conductor with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in Burlington. He has also taught at Amherst College.
