By: Megan Lemley
This
year marks the 20th anniversary of principal violist Ronald D. Arrons
association with The New York Pops. He joined the orchestra in 1986
after an already long and impressive career working in orchestras across
the country.
Ron grew up in the Chicago area and began playing violin at a young age. His was a musical family: all his siblings were taught violin by their father, Samuel Arron. After a couple of years playing violin, at the age of seven, Ron tried the viola at the suggestion of his father. Ron soon grew to love not only the unique sound of the instrument but the way it felt in his arms.
Though Rons father was a renowned violin teacher, he encouraged Ron to pursue other interests and was emphatic that Ron receive a real education not just that from a conservatory. With this in mind Ron decided to go to Northwestern University where he could take liberal arts classes while pursuing a degree in Music Education. To this day Ron encourages his own students to follow a similar path. Look, if you want to play, its fine, but go and get a real education, go to a real school so you can do something else with your life just in case.
But Ron was not destined to do something else. In 1965 he enlisted in the United States Army (as part of the U.S. Army band), where he played with the renowned Strolling Strings in Washington, DC. From 1966-1969, he performed regularly at The White House, and two major events took place. First, he achieved his musical goal to become part of a symphony orchestra, joining the Richmond (Virginia) Symphony. Second, he met Ron Arron and married Judith Hagerty. This was the beginning of a wonderful partnership that was to last for thirty years until her death in 1998.
After he was discharged from the military in 1969, Ron auditioned for symphony orchestras across the country. He ultimately chose to play with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as assistant principal of the viola section while Judith Arron became general manager. They also started a family, raising two boys, Joseph, who has an M.D. and Ph.D. and is currently doing research at Stanford; and Edward, a professional cellist in Manhattan.
In 1986 Judith Arron was appointed executive director of Carnegie Hall and the family was planning to move to New York. At this time Skitch Henderson guest conducted for the Cincinnati Symphony and mentioned to Ron that there would be a place in The New York Pops for him if he didnt have anything lined up. He didnt. Arrangements were made, and the first weekend he was in New York City Ron found himself making his way out to Jones Beach for the infamous Daily News Blimp Race and performance of Skitch Hendersons Blimphony with The New York Pops.
I thought I was in the twilight zone. Here I was coming from a major symphony orchestra to play a Pops concert in a tuxedo at Jones Beach while four blimps raced around Long Island. Despite this introduction, Ron stuck with the organization. He had a soft spot in his heart for Skitch. He was so generous about offering me my first work in New York and he had such passion for music. I knew I would always make time for The New York Pops and for Skitch. Over the years Ron especially enjoyed how Skitch was determined to educate that audience. And there was also something about the orchestra, a certain camaraderie that only Skitch could invoke. He always took the job seriously. He was an incredible musician, a world-class pianist, and he had a rapport with the audience that will never be duplicated.
Soon after moving to New York, Ron became an associate musician for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, which remained his major gig for twenty years. Last summer, Ron played one of his final performances for the Met at a concert in Central Park. He recalls that evening clearly. It was a blistering hot day and close to 100,000 people showed up to see Tosca. After the concert I was walking out of the park and I see an elderly gentleman walking ahead of me at a brisk pace in a suit and tie. Skitch? What are you doing? If I asked. I came to hear Tosca if he said. Wanted to refresh my memory. I just felt I needed to hear it. That is how Ron will always remember Skitch. No matter what the conditions, on the podium or anywhere else, when everybody else was gwilting like flowers on the vine, Skitch was going a mile a minute and he never complained.
