Announcing Longwood Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Director, Jotaro Nakano
“I am incredibly honored to be welcomed into this family of passionate and caring musicians.”
Longwood Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of Boston’s medical community, is thrilled to announce Jotaro Nakano as the organization’s new Music Director beginning with the 2023-2024 season. He will assume the role on July 1, 2023.
“I am incredibly honored to be welcomed into this family of passionate and caring musicians,” said LSO Music Director Jotaro Nakano. “The mission of this orchestra has such immense beauty. It is a mission that is both hopeful and aspirational for the opportunity to grow and serve together as artistic citizens for our community.”
Nakano was selected from a highly qualified pool that included applicants from around the globe. During the 18-month search process, which encompassed the 2022-2023 season, four finalists were invited by the LSO Search Committee to spend a rehearsal cycle and perform a concert with the orchestra. The committee, composed of LSO musicians, board members, and outside professional musicians, was co-chaired by Jean Bae, LSO Assistant Concertmaster and board member, and Dr. Read Pukkila-Worley, LSO board member and cellist.
“Jotaro has an immense amount of talent, musicality, and commitment to using music as a force for healing and engaging the community,” said LSO Board Chair Michael Barnett, MD. “He’s a perfect fit with the LSO: superb musical artistry, deep interest in the intersection of music and medicine, and passion for the community partners we serve.”
In 2021, Nakano was appointed as the Peabody Arts in Health Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Building upon the partnership of both institutions, the Arts in Health Fellowship was created to integrate music with medicine in places of healthcare for the medical community of Baltimore. Through meaningful collaborations both with artists and medical professionals, Nakano explored the healing possibilities of art and music within clinical environments.
Previously, Nakano served as Music Director of the Ann Arbor Camerata, Cover Conductor for the Baltimore Symphony, and Conducting Fellow of the Long Beach Symphony. He was most recently interim conductor of The Chapman Orchestra in Orange, CA. Nakano is currently completing his doctorate degree under the instruction of Marin Alsop at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Nakano received his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan, studying with Kenneth Kiesler.
More information about the LSO’s 2023-2024 season, including programs, soloists, and community partners, will be made available soon on our website: www.longwoodsymphony.org.