The Richmond Symphony has announced the appointment of Steven Smith as its next Music Director. Smith made his first official appearance as Music Director in a celebratory gala concert on April 24 featuring violinist Gil Shaham.

Smith won the position after a comprehensive search that culminated last weekend with him leading the orchestra in a program that included Beethoven's Emperor Piano Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. The eighteen-month search included the vetting of nine finalists out of a field of more than 240 applicants. Smith will become the fifth conductor to lead the orchestra since its founding in 1957.

Steven Smith recently celebrated his eleventh season as Music Director of the Santa Fe Symphony & Chorus and serves as Music Director of the Grammy-award winning Cleveland Chamber Symphony, an ensemble devoted to the performance of contemporary music.