While his resume is full of music education and conducting experience, he attributes much of his success to the vibrant arts scene and supportive community in Blair County.

However, the South Carolina resident has expressed interest in cutting back on his career and conducting symphonies in his home region instead. And because the symphony will celebrate its 100th season next fall, he said now was a perfect time to find his successor.

“It’s a great honor to be involved in an orchestra like that, and that’s why I’ve been involved for so long and enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.

Music can be traced back in Palmer’s family tree, as his grandfather was involved in the military band, and his father loved opera. As a child living in Massachusetts, his parents would take him to the Boston Symphony every Tuesday night, planting the seed of curiosity in Palmer.

Courtesy photo / Nick Palmer conducted his final performance with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra in April.

He said growing up in that environment got him excited about music at an early age.

While playing a variety of instruments in Hingham High School’s marching band, jazz band, concert band and orchestra, he gravitated toward conducting a symphony instead. So at age 16, he worked with his conducting teacher before graduating and attending Harvard University.

One of the main reasons he attended Harvard was for its emphasis on the humanities, especially the music department and student-run orchestras.

“There were a lot of perks about going there,” he said.

His music education didn’t stop there: he attended the New England Conservatory of Music to secure a master’s degree before applying for professional conducting jobs, one being in his wife’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.

Conducting in Florida worked well for Palmer, he said, as his firstborn son, Nicholas, was taken care of by Palmer’s father-in-law, who happened to be a pediatrician.

It was — and still is — common for Palmer to have a few conducting jobs at any given time, but he scored his first full-time commission position at the Dubuque Symphony in Iowa, uprooting his young family to the Midwest.

“My wife was great about moving across the country, and she likes to have a little adventure in life,” he said.

While being a music director, he also went back to school and got his doctoral degree from the University of Iowa before attending Penn State University’s professional music festival, Penn’s Woods Music Festival.

Being invited as a guest conductor, he met former ASO conductor Jan Wilson, who told him that the orchestra was looking for a conductor. After telling Wilson that he wanted to be considered for the position, he soon conducted his first concert there in 1996.

Changing notes in Altoona

Palmer has changed Altoona’s creative community for the better, according to ASO administrators and musicians.

“He is a dream to work with,” said ASO Executive Director Amanda Selvenis. “We are so fortunate to have him here as a conductor and music director of this caliber.”

Selvenis met Palmer about two years ago when Selvenis was named the new executive director in 2024. While accommodating to her new position, she said Palmer was supportive and patient with her, wanting the orchestra and the team to be successful.

Meanwhile, she said that he pushed the symphony musicians into achieving an elevated sound, a challenge those musicians were hungry for.

“He’s taken the symphony, elevated the sound and attracted high-caliber musicians,” she said, mentioning that trumpet player and Penn State University professor George Carpten IV visited the symphony.

Another example of Palmer pushing the orchestra into the next level was when he asked them to perform “Tybalt’s Death” from the “Romeo and Juliet” Suite, according to musician Stephanie Everett.

While it was tough at first, she said his direction and their willingness to put on a great show were the perfect mixture, and they mastered the song.

“He brings out the best of us,” she said.

During his last classical ASO concert performance in April, Everett and a few other musicians pitched in to purchase Palmer his own star in the constellation of Pisces. She wanted to show Palmer how much he meant to them by giving him something to share with his grandchildren.

Rick Vanevenhoven, board treasurer and former ASO executive director, said that one of Palmer’s greatest strengths is building lasting relationships with community members.

“His personality is fantastic,” he said. “He certainly took me under his wing.”

Vanevenhoven first met Palmer in 2021 when they brought back Palmer from a hiatus in 2021 after the symphony was in a crunch for a new conductor. While working as the director, he said that Palmer helped him with symphony tasks, such as creating a season timeline.

Directing a symphony isn’t a piece of cake, Selvenis added, as it’s difficult to balance audience members who enjoy selections from action movies composed by John Williams when others prefer shows emphasizing classical works.

However, she said that Palmer was the exception.

“I think Nick does a beautiful job of having grown the classical appreciation and growing the audiences of those who have never tried the symphony,” he said.

Singing a new tune

While commuting to Altoona about nine times a year, Palmer said he’s ready to cut back on his hours while continuing to conduct at a symphony closer to his home in South Carolina, the North Charleston POPS!

As the ASO finds a new director, he’s lending a hand on the advisory committee and assisting with the search.

“I would really hope the new conductor would build on our successes and track record and make the orchestra continuously better,” he said, adding that more community and educational outreach would also be ideal.

To find the best fit, the ASO’s 98th season will involve four performances put on by each of its finalists. To learn more about the search, read the accompanying story.

Palmer said a successful orchestra is a good sign of a thriving community.

“An orchestra gives live music to people in the community, and it allows people to experience a community together as a group,” he said.

While the symphony is moving forward, supporters of Palmer expressed their regret at watching him leave the helm.

“I think he is truly a member of our community even though he’s from South Carolina,” Everett said.

“We will miss him because we absolutely treasure him,” Selvenis said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

The Palmer file

Name: Nick Palmer

Age: 69

Current residence: Johns Island, South Carolina

Education: Hingham High School; bachelor’s degree from Harvard University; master’s degree from New England Conservatory of Music; and doctor of philosophy from the University of Iowa

Experience: Altoona Symphony Orchestra (1996-2026), North Charleston POPS! (2015-present), Lafayette Symphony (1998-2024), Dubuque Symphony (1985-99), Evening Under The Stars festival (1998-present), as well as the Detroit Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony and others

Family: Wife, Dorothy; sons: Nicholas, Daniel (Katie),

Alexander and Oliver; grandchildren, Rosie and Lucy

Hobbies: Food and wine, golfing, boating and traveling