Baltimore Symphony appoints Markus Stenz principal guest conductor

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has appointed Markus Stenz as principal guest conductor for a three-year term commencing with the 2015-2016 season. The German conductor, who is principal conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, made a sensational BSO debut in 2012.

In a statement released Wednesday, Stenz said that his "first encounter [with the BSO] in October 2012 is unforgettable to me. I loved the musicians' sophisticated and joyous approach to music making and look forward to experiencing a wide variety of repertoire with the orchestra." He will on the podium next May as a guest conductor.

BSO music director Marin Alsop said she is "delighted to be joined by long-time friend and colleague, Markus Stenz. We met when we were conducting fellows at Tanglewood in 1989 under Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa and Gustav Meier. When Markus debuted with the BSO, he immediately struck a rapport with our musicians, and they were as enthusiastic as I about creating a position that would bring him to Baltimore on a regular basis."

The orchestra announced three additional podium appointments:

-- Ken Lam, the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra artistic director and music director designate of the Charleston (S.C.) Symphony, as associate conductor for education

-- Nicholas Hersh, a Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award recipient and former music director of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, as assistant conductor

-- Peabody Conservatory doctoral student Michael Repper as the 2014-2015 season BSO-Peabody conducting fellow.