Conductor Andreas Delfs to be professor of music at Temple

Andreas Delfs, a relatively high-profile orchestral conductor, will take up the baton at a school - as professor of music and artistic director and conductor of the Temple University Symphony Orchestra.

He officially starts July 1 and will move to Philadelphia, said Robert Stroker, dean of Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance.

The German-born conductor - who was music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2009 and of the St. Paul (Minn.) Chamber Orchestra from 2001 to 2004 - will run Temple's orchestral program, teach conducting and orchestral repertoire, oversee commissioning and the engagement of guest artists, and coach chamber music, Stroker said. It is a full-time position, on an expedited tenure track, that involves twice-weekly orchestra rehearsals and up to seven concerts per year, plus recordings.

Delfs, 55, was hired after an 18-month search that brought seven candidates to campus for interviews, Stroker said. He succeeds Luis Biava, who retired a year ago. David Hayes has been leading the orchestra on an interim basis.

With a degree from the Hamburg Conservatory and a master's from the Juilliard School of Music, Delfs was chief conductor of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 1995 and has been an active guest conductor. This will be his first full-time teaching position, Stroker said.

"Delfs is exactly what we were looking for," he said, "an outstanding musician with vast experience conducting ensembles throughout the world who is passionate about teaching young people."

215-854-5611