The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s new CEO Kang Eun-kyung said that the orchestra is considering six candidates for the position of artistic director, raising the possibility that the once embattled orchestra may be able to appoint a new artistic leader by the end of the year. 

“The orchestra has recently initiated discussions over a six-candidate list. I would like to finalize the list and have a new music director appointed by the end of this year,” said Kang during a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Wednesday.

“It has been delayed, largely due to the leadership vacancy at the orchestra, as well as the time taken to reflect the opinions of individual members of the orchestra,” Kang said.

The orchestra’s CEO position remained vacant for some six months before Kang’s appointment in March.

A seven-member committee formed in March 2016 to select the orchestra’s artistic director was expanded in March this year to include two additional members. After the committee finalizes two to three candidates, the list will be presented to the board of directors who will then decide on the final candidate before the appointment is made by the Seoul mayor.

The tenures of the two principal guest conductors Thierry Fischer and Markus Stenz, whose terms end in December 2019, will remain intact -- at least for a while -- even after the orchestra appoints a new music director, as the new director will need some time to settle in the orchestra, Kang explained.

Fischer and Stenz were previously among the 13 candidates being considered for the position of artistic director. Whether the two are currently part of the six candidates remained undisclosed by the orchestra.

Prior to appointing the music director, the SPO will fill the newly created post of associate conductor as well as the assistant conductor position in June.

Meanwhile, the SPO will embark on its European tour of six cities in Switzerland, Italy and France in November.

The tour marks the orchestra’s first tour to France and Switzerland since it became an incorporated foundation in 2005. It will also be its first visit to Europe since its performance at the BBC Proms in 2014.

Discussions on the SPO’s artistic adviser and composer-in-residence posts -- previously held by Chin Un-suk who abruptly resigned in January -- will take place during the second half this year, Kang said.

By Shim Woo-hyun (ws@heraldcorp.com)