Carmel Symphony Orchestra Names New Music Director

Conductor David Commanday will step into the role

David Commanday will begin his tenure at Indiana's Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) immediately, with the initial term continuing until the close of the 2024/25 season.

Originally a cellist, Commanday studied languages, psychology, and music at Harvard University, and upon graduating, was principal cello at Tanglewood. There, the opportunity to work under Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Aaron Copland inspired him to learn conducting, and he went on to study with Otmar Suitner at the University of Vienna.

Commanday was then appointed Music Director of the Boston Ballet, and also held assistant and associate positions with the San Diego Symphony and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. For over a decade, he was Music Director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, during which time the orchestra doubled its endowment and featured a range of world-class soloists.

Commanday is the founder of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, which won the award for Professional Orchestra and Conductor of the Year of the Illinois Council of Orchestras.

"We are extremely honored and pleased to have made this appointment," said Anne Marie Chastain, the orchestra's Executive Director. "The musicians of the CSO fell in love with Maestro Commanday at their first rehearsal, and the results of this positive engagement have resonated at our Palladium performances."

"Audiences are responding, and we can’t wait to see how the Carmel Symphony Orchestra evolves under Maestro’s Commanday’s leadership."

"I am deeply honored by this appointment and the opportunity to work with the wonderful musicians of the CSO in the seasons ahead," Commanday said. "Carmel has a treasure in this orchestra, and in the Palladium, the truly world-class concert hall that is their home. I can’t wait to get to work!"