Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Appoints New Music Director

Israeli-American conductor Ilya Ram will step into the role

Following an extensive two-year search, the young Israeli-American conductor Ilya Ram has been named as the new Music Director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (CSO). Only the fourth Music Director in the CSO's 91-year history, Ram will begin immediately, with an initial contract that takes him to the conclusion of the 2027/28 season.

Since the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Ram is has been Music Director of the Akademische Philharmonie Heidelberg, and he will continue in that capacity alongside his responsibilities in Chattanooga.

Ram has made recent appearances with the Szczecin Filharmonia, Orquestra do Algarve, Orchestra Indiana, Deutsche Philharmonie Merck, Magdeburg Philharmoniker, Ensemble Tempus Konnex, Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Ra’anana Sinfonietta, and the Robert-Schumann Philharmonic.

He has previously led a number of youth ensembles, including the German National Youth Ballet and the Youth North-German Philharmonic, the Dresden Special Music High School (Spezialschule), and the Leipzig University Orchestra.

Ram studied conducting at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv, as well as with Ekkehard Klemm at the Hochschule für Musik “Carl Maria von Weber” Dresden, and with Steven Sloane and Harry Curtis in the Advanced Professional Training for Conductors Program at the UdK Berlin.

"I am absolutely elated to be the next music director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and to make Tennessee one of my musical homes," Ram said. "From the very first interview to our concert last November, I felt an immediate connection and great joy performing with the orchestra."

"I am looking forward to getting to know the Chattanooga community and to integrate myself as one of your own. Together with Susan Caminez, the Board, and the Musicians, we will embark on bright and fantastic future together, making the Orchestra a major cultural pillar."

"This is the beginning of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s next act," said Amy Mahone, chair of the CSO Board of Directors. "I am honored to announce Ilya Ram as the symphony’s next music director. In partnership with the dedicated professional musicians of the symphony we have named an artistic leader, who with our Executive Director Susan Caminez, sets the stage for what will surely be a bright musical future for our beloved Chattanooga Symphony."