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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
Sitkovetsky speaks to music students
Will Groves
Staff Writer
He was trained intensely in
classical music. He fled the
Soviet Union under false pre
tenses. He avoided a harsh
service in Stalin's navy. He
likes the Beatles.
Dmitry Sitkovetsky, music
director and conductor of the
Greensboro Symphony Or
chestra has seen many
things.
Sitkovetsky's exceptional
life was just one of the things
he discussed on the morning
of Jan. 21 with a group of mu
sic students and faculty in
Boren Lounge. He also dis
cussed his life as a profes
sional conductor and per
former, and music from Bach
to The Beatles.
While the college may not
have an orchestra, Sitkovet
sky's discussion of a profes-
Cafeteria promotes Gilmer, welcomes new manager
iiii i i i
Kathy Oliver
Staff Writer
1111 I I I
In the past six months the
cafeteria has changed its
chefs, set-up, and appear
ance. Now, as of Jan. 5, the
caf is under new management
as well.
This semester the college
welcomed a new general
manager, Mark Fischer, as its
most recent addition to the
dining staff. Doug Gilmer, who
has been with the college for
decades, has been promoted
to director of operations.
Gilmer, a veteran of the col-B
lege's dining services, began
working with the college in
1963 as a dishwasher. Over
time Gilmer was promoted to
cook's helper, head cook,
kitchen manager, supervisor,
and, eventually, general man
ager. In 1984 Gilmer was ap
pointed production manager
and remained in that position
until 2002, when it was an-
sion in music applies to many
music students here who are
considering careers in music.
Sitkovetsky was raised in
Russia in a.
musical fam
ily, and was
educated in
the highly
competitive
fine art
schools of
Russia. He
left the Sovi
et Union in
the '7os by
pretending to
have ten
donitis so the
government:
"One of the neatest things about
him was that he was so laid-back,
much more so than you'd think
someone who was educated in a
conservatory in Moscow would be."
~ Chris Wells
would believe he could no
longer play violin. The govern
ment had a policy of not al
lowing exceptional artists to
leave the country, but since
they believed Sitkovetsky
nounced he would take over
the role of service manager,
where he remained until earli
er this month.
According to a news release
by Ty Buckner on the col
lege's Web site, Gilmer's ded
ication to his work has earned
him a great deal of gratitude
from the athletic department.
"In recognition of his service
to athletics program at the
college, Gilmer was inducted
to the Hall of Fame in 1990
and received [a National As
sociation Intercollegiate Ath
letics (NAIA)] championship
"ring along with members ofl
the 1973 men's basketball
team."
Fischer has been working in
contract food service for more
than 15 years. Since receiving
a bachelor's degree in politi
cal science at East Carolina
University in 1987 and study
ing at the Culinary Institute of
America in Hyde Park, New
York, Fischer has held sever
NEWS
could no longer play, believed
he "no longer provided a ser
vice for the country."
Sitkovetsky's eagerness to
tell stories and his childlike
wonder and enthusiasm dur
ing his discussion made it ob
vious that he was raised in
what he calls "one of the most
famous Russian kitchens,
al geographically diverse po
sitions through ARAMARK
Corp, another food service
corporation. Fischer's past
college placements include
location manager at East Car
olina University, and catering
director at UNC-Wilmington
and at Kansas State Universi
ty-
Fischer, a father of two, is
pleased to settle in Greens
boro and become acquainted
with the college. "I wanted to
build a relationship with an or
ganization, and Guilford is
that organization," he said.
B'Tm very excited to have that'
opportunity, to be a part of a
very diverse and growing
community."
Fischer says in the near fu
ture we can expect a new look
in the caf, more frequent
menu rotations, and food spe
cialty nights; and according to
a statement from Phil Manz,
the college's vice president
and chief financial officer, "the
WEEKDAY DAYTIME
with people gathering all the
time."
"One of the neatest things
about him was that he was so
■ laid-back,
much more
so than you'd
think some
one who was
educated in a
conservatory
in Moscow
would be,"
Chris Wells, a
sophomore
who plans to
major in mu
sic, said.
Sitkovet
;sky's charm
and open demeanor was sur
prising to most people who at
tended the discussion. "He
was much more verbal and
friendly than I anticipated,"
Tim Lindeman, an associate
www. guilford. edu
Director Doug Gilmer and general manager Mark Fischer
program is going to continue
to be responsive to student
requests and suggestions."
"You're limited only in your
facility," Fischer said. "We can
do a number of things in this
facility, but we'd like to take it
"JAN 30, 2004
GREENSBORO, NC
professor of music and chair
man of the department of
music, said. "I thought it was
a great experience for us to
sit down in an informal at
mosphere as opposed to the
symphony where he is the
boss."
Sitkovetsky said he loves
classical music, but also en
joys jazz and rock 'n roll.
"Whenever I'm in my car, I
guarantee I'm not listening to
classical ... I love good pop
songs," Sitkovetsky said.
In addition to conducting
and directing the Greensboro
Symphony Orchestra,
Sitkovetsky is a violin virtu
oso who performs numerous
concerts each year with vari
ous orchestras and ensem
bles all over the world.
K- Y"
up a notch, the administra
tion would like to take it up a
notch, and the students
would like to take it up a
notch. So we're very excited
about the opportunities that
lay ahead of us."