New conductor named

A new conductor has been hired to lead the North State Symphony following a nearly two-year search that evaluated 40 applicants. Chico State announced June 17 that Scott Seaton (pictured) has been handed the conductor’s baton.

Seaton, who has led orchestras in Europe, South America, New York, Cleveland, Boston and most recently North Dakota, said he was “thrilled to be joining the North State Symphony and to be leading this outstanding organization into a grand new chapter.”

“From our first rehearsal in February, I felt a fantastic chemistry with the musicians that only became more intense as we performed the concert set in Chico and Redding,” he said in a statement. “Their passion and desire for excellence is inspiring. This is a true regional orchestra in every sense and I’m very excited to begin working with the orchestra and staff and look forward to joining this wonderful community.”

The symphony’s original conductor, Kyle Wiley Pickett, stepped down at the end of the 2013-14 season.