The Dayton Philharmonic has announced the appointment of Keitaro Harada as the fifth Music director.

Harada will act as the Music and Artistic Director Designate during the 2024-25 season and will take the helm in 2025.

In a statement, Harada said, “The DPAA stands out to me as it brings together three art forms I absolutely love: orchestra, opera, and ballet. Dayton’s rich history and vibrant art scene will provide us with the inspiration and imagination to build collaborations that can only be achieved at DPAA. Having recently performed together, we began to discover the endless possibilities of our music-making and great community. I am deeply grateful to serve as the next Music and Artistic Director.”

Harada is the Music Director of the Savannah Philharmonic since the 2020–21 season and is the Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He also conducts the NHK Symphony Orchestra frequently and is the recipient of the 2023 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.