Esteemed South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun, the former Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director, has been appointed the honorary music director of Japan’s oldest classical orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chung officially took rein as honorary music director of the Tokyo Phil beginning Sept. 1, following a longtime relationship with the orchestra, He worked with the ensemble as a special artistic advisor from 2001 to the 2009/10 season, and as an honorary conductor laureate from the 2010/11 season up until last month.

“Now in his 16th year of a very close and fruitful working relationship with Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Myung Whun Chung has long been family,” said an announcement on the orchestra’s homepage.

The conductor previously served as music director of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra for 15 years along with his 10-year tenure as music director and conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic. He still resides as the music director of Seoul’s Asia Philharmonic Orchestra, which Chung founded in 1997.

The maestro is slated to take to the podium with the Tokyo Phil Orchestra later this month for three concert performances in Tokyo on Sept. 21, 23 and 25. Korea’s latest classical music star Cho Seong-jin, who became the first Korean to win the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition last year, will join the first two concerts.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)