The search is complete: Morihiko Nakahara,  associate conductor of the Jacksonville and Spokane symphony orchestras and Director of Orchestras at Eastern Washington University, has been named the new Music Director of the South Carolina Philharmonic. He'll assume his duties for the upcoming 2008-2009 season.

All reports were that he was the strong choice of the musicians themselves; several of the members of the orchestra who I had spoken to over the course of the season indicated as much. I didn't get to hear his concert with the orchestra (he was the second candidate to guest-conduct the orchestra) but there was buzz immediately following his appearance, and that lasted throughout the year. I'm glad the search committee and the bulk of the orchestra were in accord about the choice. It will be exciting to see what Nakahara and the orchestra can accomplish together in their first season together, beginning in the fall.