Wanted ads for full time music directors do not often grace the music scene. So now that a music director is needed for the Chicago Sinfonietta - it will be interesting to see who comes on board. The strengths and interests of the director shapes the orchestra's direction dramatically. The director creates its identity.

So I wonder whether the complete identity of the Sinfonietta will change or stay the same.

Currently programing staight-forward classical chamber works and works married with folk and world music (Kiran Ahluwahlia on Concert IV for example) the Sinfonietta tries to include everyone and every genre in concerts. But will that shift? Will that grow to include contemporary modern works?

Another thing to note is the clear notion of diversity. Now with President Obama in office and African Americans in general in prominent sectors, I wonder who the best representative of the orchestra is. Will it be an African American? Who best represents the orchestra now that the world is a different place over 20 years later, since the orchestra was formed in 1987?

My hope is that the next director - no matter the nationality, brings the Sinfonietta forward and raises its profile. I love the notion of a diverse group - like Chicago's population itself creating music that spans everything, and includes high quality, cutting edge music presented in an interesting context.

Now we just wait and see.