Taking the baton - Times-Standard

SUMMER SHOW

Taking the baton

Rory Pitts, 17, conducts the orchestra for HLOC’s ‘Elf The Musical’

Rory Pitts is a 2025 graduate of Arcata High School. She’s heading to Sonoma State University later this summer to start her studies. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RORY PITTS

Rory Pitts is pictured in an HLOC production of “Cinderella.” Pitts said, “My first HLOC show was ‘Cinderella’ when I was 4.”

Rory Pitts is pictured on stage with her parents, Katri and Larry Pitts, in HLOC’s “Mary Poppins.”

Rory Pitts was 11 when she played the title role in HLOC’s “Anne of Green Gables.”

Image

By Heather Shelton

hshelton@times-standard.com

Rory Pitts will mark her 18th birthday in a very special way.

The local teen — who will celebrate that life milestone in early August — is conducting the orchestra for the Humboldt Light Opera Company’s summer production of “Elf The Musical.”

“I’m turning 18 right before closing weekend (of the show) and then moving out for college a week later,” said Pitts, the youngest conductor in the Humboldt Light Opera Company’s 52-year history.

“We have watched Rory grow from a 2-year-old playing the violin to a wonderful pianist and singer-actress. She has grown up not only in the world of music, but the world of musical theater. She understands the role of the orchestra conductor for a show and how to keep the pacing of the musical going forward. We all admire who she has become at such a young age,” said “Elf The Musical” Director Carol Ryder, who also serves as artistic producing director for the Humboldt Light Opera Company, aka HLOC.

“Elf The Musical” — based on the 2003 film “Elf” starring Will Ferrell — brings “Christmas in summer” to the stage. This heartwarming production opens Friday and runs through Aug. 10 at the Van Duzer Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata. (To find out about the local show, take a look at the article below.)“‘Elf’ is really lighthearted and fun. It’s a feel-good musical with a sweet message about being true to yourself and being there for your family,” said Pitts, who has been part of the HLOC family since she was very young.

“My first HLOC show was ‘Cinderella’ when I was 4. Before that, I did KidCo classes starting when I was 3. My parents have been involved with HLOC since before I was born, so I’ve been in rehearsals since I was a baby,” said Pitts, who has played roles in eight HLOC summer shows, including Grumpy in “Shrek The Musical (2013), the Mayor of Munchkinland in “The Wizard of Oz” (2018) and Anne Shirley in “Anne of Green Gables” (2019).

In a statement to the Times-Standard, Pitts’ parents, Larry and Katri Pitts, said, “When Rory was a toddler, she would lay down on the floor amidst the orchestra at HLOC rehearsals and let the music wash over her. Now, she will be leading the HLOC pit orchestra for ‘Elf The Musical,’ and we are so proud of her. After being involved with HLOC for her entire life, it is such a joy to see her growing into a leadership role and combining her love of musical theater, orchestral music and conducting. We couldn’t be more proud.”

The Pitts family — which also includes Rory Pitts’ younger sister, Trillium — has long been involved with music.

Larry Pitts teaches in the Department of Music at Cal Poly Humboldt, serves as accompanist and/or director of several local choirs and is an active member of HLOC. Katri Pitts teaches music for the Cutten/Ridgewood School District, sings in several local choirs and is a member of HLOC. Trillium Pitts plays violin in the Eureka Symphony, the Bach On Chamber Ensemble and the ArMack Orchestra, and sings in the Eureka Symphony Chorus. She is also a member of HLOC.

Rory Pitts — in addition to her involvement with HLOC — played violin in the Eureka Symphony from 2021 to 2025 and the Bach On Chamber Ensemble from 2022 to 2024, was concertmaster of the ArMack Orchestra from 2021 to 2025, and played in the Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2024. She also served as pianist for and directed the choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka from 2023 to 2025.

Together, the four have enjoyed performing together as the Pitts Family Quartet since 2017.

“My family is very musical. … It’s great to have support and guidance from my parents, who are both music teachers. I love performing with my family. Some of my favorite memories include being on stage together,” said Rory Pitts, who plays violin and piano, sings, and now is an orchestra conductor.

Pitts says she initially talked to HLOC’s Carol Ryder about conducting “Elf” as plans were coming to fruition for the summer production.

“Carol was looking for a conductor, and I thought I might like to do it because I’ve acted on stage and worked backstage many times, but I had never been in the pit. I mentioned the idea to Carol, and it ended up working out well,” Pitts said.

She added, “I’m passionate about conducting because it lets me exercise creative freedom with a large ensemble. Conducting for a musical is especially fun for me, because I get to draw upon my experience from two different sides of the performing arts — classical music and musical theater.

She says she’s honored to be HLOC’s youngest conductor.

“It’s a demanding job, but it’s rewarding and fun,” said Pitts, who graduated in June from Arcata High School. Shortly after she finishes her run with “Elf,” she will head to Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park to major in violin performance.

For more information about “Elf The Musical,” go to https://www.hloc.org.