Keitaro Harada to be the next leader of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has appointed conductor Keitaro Harada as the fifth director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rising Star Takes Flight: Keitaro Harada Named Music Director of Dayton Philharmonic
Harada will act as the Music and Artistic Director Designate in ’24-25 before taking the helm in 2025
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA) announced the appointment of conductor Keitaro Harada as the next Music and Artistic Director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Harada made his Dayton debut as guest conductor of the DPO’s presentation of "Total Eclipse: The Sun and the Planets", a concert held before the recent Total Solar Eclipse. Harada will be the fifth person to hold the position in the orchestra's 92-year history.
The 39-year-old Harada, born in Tokyo, Japan, will begin his tenure with the orchestra during the 2024-2025 season as Music Director Designate. He will then assume the full role of Music and Artistic Director on July 1, 2025. He has committed to an initial five-year term with the option to renew.
Harada brings a wealth of experience to the Dayton stage. He is a sought-after guest conductor, having led prestigious orchestras around the world. These include the symphony orchestras of Cincinnati, Houston, Seattle, Indianapolis, Fort Worth, NHK, Yomiuri Nippon, and Osaka, as well as the philharmonic orchestras of Osaka, Kanagawa, Nagoya, Japan, New Japan and Tokyo. His operatic credits are equally noteworthy, with appearances at the Nikikai Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera and the North Carolina Opera.
Dayton Local welcomes Maestro Harada!
