Death of Long-time Pasadena Symphony Music Contractor
Nathan Kaproff, personnel manager and contractor for the Pasadena Symphony for many years, died Wednesday, July 30 at age 86. The cause of death was unknown.
Kaproff, as contractor, would hire musicians for each performance. It was his job to be certain that the free-lance musicians that are the mainstay of local orchestras would be available and competent to perform the planned program of symphony music.
“Nathan was a consummate professional who could always find just the right balance of musicians,” Tom O’Connor, Executive Director, Peformance, Marketing, and Education for The Orchestras of Pasadena, said today in reflecting on the passing of Kaproff. “He will be greatly missed.”
Kaproff retired as contractor for the orchestra in 2002.
Typical of his professionalism, one night at the Pasadena Symphony, a member of the brass section failed to show. Orchestra conductor, Jorge Mester, was forced to tell the audience that the start of the performance would be delayed due to the lack of a musician whose instrument was center to the composition to be performed. Kaproff could be seen walking and talking in an excited fashion in the wings, making plans to call a replacement, or perhaps enlist one of the orchestra members on-site. It was his responsibility to see that a musician was provided. Period. In this instance, the musician appeared a few minutes later, and the concert proceeded successfully. But the incident highlighted the importance of his job.
Kaproff was often the manager or contractor for studios seeking the finest musicans available in the Los Angeles market. He brought together the musicians to play the film score for the movie soundtrack for such films as “Clear and Present Danger”, “The Rainmaker”, and “The Thomas Crown Affair”.
by Bill Peters
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