This is a pretty momentous week for the Chicago Sinfonietta.  For the first time since its founding by Paul Freeman in 1987, this orchestra has conducted a search for, and selection of a new Music Director.  We couldn’t be more excited about welcoming Maestra Mei-Ann Chen to our organization and introducing her to Chicago.

The search began over two years ago when Maestro Freeman let us know that he would step down after the 2010-2011 Season.  The board appointed a Transition Committee to oversee the process.  We soon had created a Music Director profile and began identifying candidates who we felt best reflected the attributes outlined in that document.  The committee, with great assistance from our search consultant identified over 25 candidates from all over the world.

The Transition Committee winnowed that list down to ten candidates, eight of whom were invited to guest conduct the orchestra.  We hosted Leslie Dunner, William Eddins, Mei-Ann Chen, Michael Morgan, Andres Raphel Smith, Kazem Abdullah, Alondra de la Parra, and John McLaughlin Williams.

A second committee, the Music Director Advisory Committee made up of some of our musicians, board members, staff, and two independent members, were selected to evaluate the auditions.  Our last audition was completed in May and the two committees met soon after to discuss the selection and make their recommendations.  Mei-Ann was the clear favorite of most everyone involved in the process.  The board of directors accepted the recommendations and voted to appoint Maestra Chen as the Chicago Sinfonietta’s second Music Director, succeeding Paul Freeman beginning in 2011-2012. 

Mei-Ann will be in Chicago this week to be introduced to the media, be welcomed by our board, staff, musicians, and funders, and begin planning for the orchestra’s future.  Her appointment will be announced live at 9 am on Wednesday, August 4th on WFMT 98.7 FM.  There will also be TV interviews, articles in the daily newspapers, and other coverage. 

This is an exciting time in the history of our orchestra, but also a melancholy one as we begin to say goodbye to our Founder, Paul Freeman.   We hope Chicago’s classical music fans will join us during the 2010-2011 Season as this pioneering conductor leads the Sinfonietta for the final time.