Chamber Orchestra gets new music director

Beginning in the 2010 – 2011 season, the chamber orchestra will be led by Dirk Brosse, a Belgian composer and conductor who, in recent years, has kept busy as a globetrotting guest conductor.

The Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra has turned a page with the announcement of a new Music Director. Beginning in the 2010 – 2011 season, the chamber orchestra will be led by Dirk Brosse, a Belgian composer and conductor who, in recent years, has kept busy as a globetrotting guest conductor.

Officials say a major factor in the decision to hire Brosse was the favorable reaction he elicited from the musicians during recent stints as guest conductor in Philadelphia. Brosse, who is currently conducting a multi-city, multimedia concert of the score to Star Wars, says he wants to build and accentuate the unique qualities of the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra.

Brosse: They are quite individualists. I like it very much. The goal for director is to get everybody to do the same thing in the right direction. Sometimes when you have different characters it can be tough, but I like it. I like very much how people have different opinions, and have a discussion.

The outgoing music director – Ignat Solzhennitsyn – will still be involved with the orchestra as Conductor Laureate.