Search for new music director underway

The search for a new music director for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra could take up to 18 months.

The WSO is looking for a new music director after long-time director Maestro Robert Franz passed away in September.

The music director search committee is almost in place and will start meeting in the next two weeks.

The WSO last went through this process over 13 years ago. They received over 200 applications for the position at that time.

“There’s a rigorous reference check process which will take weeks and then the process concludes with the short-list candidates coming to Windsor to conduct, to meet with the search committee, board members and community members,” said Patti Lauzon, executive director of the WSO.

Lauzon says they are looking for someone with a passion for sharing classical music with the wider community.

“One of the really important qualities, and we had it with our last three music directors, the ability to do community outreach and to really bring classical music into the Windsor-Essex region,” said Lauzon.

Jamie Somerville is the acting artistic advisor for the 2025-2026 season. This season’s concerts will be conducted by guest conductors, many of which were selected by Franz before he passed away.