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Bakersfield Symphony Announces New Conductor: Stilian Kirov

Alabastro Photography

The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra has a new conductor. Orchestra president Brian Burrow announced Tuesday that Bulgarian artist Stilian Kirov has been selected as the symphony's new musical director.

The move caps a year where the orchestra featured a series of guest conductors, following the departure of longtime leader John Farrer. 

Kirov says he's excited to work with the orchestra and the entire Bakersfield community:

Kirov: "When I was here at the end of September and the beginning of October, after the final concert, I went back to my hotel and I felt there was magic on-stage. I felt something very special, a very special connection with the musicians, a very special connection with the audiences I said you know I would feel wonderfully if I could get this position, and I was dreaming about it. And as we say, sometimes dreams come true."

Kirov is a graduate of Juliard, most recently Kirov has served as the associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony. During the 2013/14 season, he also served as assistant conductor to Bernard Haitink of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as a guest conductor with the Amarillo Symphony, Lansing Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra/Breckenridge, and the New World Symphony in Miami. 

Joe Moore is the President and General Manager of KVPR / Valley Public Radio. He has led the station through major programming changes, the launch of KVPR Classical and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership the station was named California Non-Profit of the Year by Senator Melissa Hurtado (2019), and won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting (2022).