Critics and other observers of the Salt Lake City music scene share their memories of Keith Lockhart.

Celia Baker » The first adjective that comes to mind when I think of Keith is "quick." He mastered complicated musical scores quickly, and arrived well-prepared for his visits to Utah -- which were also quick. The second adjective for Keith is "risk-taker."

Such qualities afforded us a fine Mahler cycle, some great regional premieres of major works (my favorite: Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem") and the chance to hear intriguing pieces by living composers, such as Dominick Argento's "A Water Bird Talk." Yes, Keith proved himself much more than a photogenic "Pops" conductor. Keith's biggest gamble, though, was his prompt support for merging the Utah Symphony with Utah Opera, and that decision is a key part of his legacy here. Immediate outcomes of the merger were mixed, and the ultimate result is still in question.

On the personal side, I'll miss Keith's ability to give lightning-fast answers to unexpected questions. He kept my fingers flying and could be counted on for pithy quotes. And -- I admit it -- I'll miss that signature kick-and-a-hop he can't suppress when conducting jazzy passages of music. Best wishes, Keith! (Celia Baker is a freelance arts writer who contributes to The Salt Lake Tribune .)

Robert Coleman » The pinnacle of Keith Lockhart's performances with the Utah Symphony has to be conducting Mahler's Eighth Symphony ("Symphony of a Thousand") with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for one of the Tanner Gift of Music concerts. The musical forces also included the Southern Utah University Choir, the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir School, International Children's Choir, the Salt Lake Children's Choir, eight soloists, the Tabernacle Organ and additional orchestra musicians. The acoustics of the Tabernacle, so favorable to vocal music, enveloped the whole performance and layered it back on the listeners with overwhelming results. For a person who has witnessed thousands of musical performances, it was one of the most memorable evenings of my life. (Coleman is a freelance music critic who contributes to The Salt Lake Tribune .)

Jeff Manookian » Utah has been very fortunate to have had a world talent such as Keith Lockhart. He has left the symphony and Utah audiences his unique stamp of musicality and genius -- which will be remembered for a good long time. I was privileged to be present during the process to elect him as conductor and see how he took the musicians and community by storm. (Manookian, a former Tribune music critic, is now conductor of the Orquesta of the Province of Tucuman in Argentina.)

Tribune reader Gale Dick » For me the greatest high point for Lockhart in the last decade was Britten's "War Requiem." You can always recognize a great performance by the utter quiet and motionlessness of the audience. The "War Requiem" had the audience totally rapt. I very much enjoyed the frequent programming of British composers like Elgar, Walton and Britten. The Mahler series has been wonderful with special highlights being performances of his second, third and ninth symphonies. It has been good to hear some of the neglected music of refugee composers such as Korngold and Weill. There have also been memorable performances when Lockhart provided sensitive orchestral accompaniments for great soloists. Thanks, Keith Lockhart.

Tribune reader Jill Sheinberg » The performance which stands out in my mind is the one which took place on the Friday evening after Sept. 11, 2001. On Tuesday morning we had watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center on the morning news. As a native New Yorker, I found it hard to tear myself away from the television set or even to get out of bed after seeing the attack. All week I spoke with friends in New York who needed to tell the stories of their own escapes. I learned of a former colleague who had died in one of the towers. But on Friday we decided I had to get out of the house. We chose to go to the symphony seeking solace from the maestro. He did not disappoint. I will never forget how Keith Lockhart came out onstage that night and spoke, in the most personal way, about the tragedy that had taken place and the role of music in helping us heal. I admit that I do not remember what was played, but I know it was an incredibly beautiful concert and marked the beginning of my personal recovery. It was truly a remarkable night. I will be eternally grateful to Keith Lockhart for the humanity he showed on that night.