Here are the names of the nine Music Director candidates selected by the RSO:

Read on for the full press release from the RSO.

(Richmond, Va.) The Richmond Symphony is inviting nine conductors, out of a field consisting of almost 250 applications, to compete for the opportunity to become the organization’s next music director. Beginning in Fall 2008 and lasting through Fall 2009, the nine candidates (bios below) will visit Richmond and work with the orchestra in many settings including public performances across all of its four concert series. In addition to seeing the candidates lead the orchestra in concert, the public will have the opportunity to meet the conductors at special events, pre-concert talks and weigh-in online and through surveys when the 2008-09 Season begins in September of this year.
A search committee representing key stakeholders from the RSO Board of Directors, musicians of the orchestra, and staff are guiding the process “The next 18 months provide us a great opportunity to include the community-at-large in the process as we select a new artistic leader,” said RSO Search Committee Chair Tracy Schwarzschild. “We value our constituents and the search committee wants to hear from the public on the qualities our next leader should possess to help advance the Richmond Symphony as we move back into the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage.”

(more…)