Lima Symphony Orchestra Announces Six Music Director Finalists for 2027–2028 Season

LIMA, OH — The Lima Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the final six conductors selected as Music Director finalists for the Orchestra’s 2027–2028 season, marking the last group of finalists in the LSO’s comprehensive two-year search for its next artistic leader.

Following an extensive international search that attracted more than 80 applicants, the LSO Music Director Search Committee interviewed 11 accomplished conductors before selecting six finalists:

Timothy Verville
Isaac Selya
David Glover
Wilbur Lin
Elias Miller
Ryo Hasegawa

The Lima Symphony Orchestra is grateful for the extraordinary level of interest in the position and to the talented conductors from across the world who applied for the opportunity to lead the Orchestra into its next chapter.

Each of the six newly announced finalists will join the Lima Symphony Orchestra during the 2027–2028 season for an immersive residency week. During their time in Lima, candidates will rehearse and perform with the Orchestra while engaging with local organizations, meeting audience members, and building relationships throughout the community.

These residencies are an important part of the selection process, allowing the LSO’s musicians, Board, staff, audiences, and community to experience each candidate not only as a conductor, but also as a leader, collaborator, and ambassador for the arts.

A Two-Year Search for the LSO’s Next Music Director

The announcement represents the next stage of the Lima Symphony Orchestra’s comprehensive two-year Music Director search, which began following the conclusion of Maestro Andrew Crust’s tenure with the Orchestra.

Selecting a Music Director is one of the most significant decisions an orchestra can make. Rather than rushing the process, the LSO designed its search across two seasons, providing

the Orchestra and community an opportunity to experience 12 finalists in meaningful weeklong residencies before selecting its next artistic leader.

The first six finalists will appear throughout the 2026–2027 Season of Discovery:

Yaniv Segal — America@250: Frontier, Freedom, and the Force — October 17, 2026
Fernanda Lastra — The American Tapestry — November 15, 2026
Kelly Corcoran — Bells, Brass & Bows — December 12, 2026
James Blachly — Echoes of Spring Candlelight — January 23 & 24, 2027
Wesley Schulz — Dancing Across America — March 13, 2027
Kevin Sütterlin — Roots and Heritage — April 10, 2027

These six conductors were selected from an accomplished group of candidates who had previously been finalists for Music Director positions at orchestras similar in size and scope to the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Simultaneously, the LSO conducted an open search that attracted more than 80 applicants, ultimately resulting in the six 2027–2028 finalists announced today.

Throughout both seasons, audience members and community members will have opportunities to provide feedback and share their experiences with the finalists. That input, along with feedback from the Orchestra’s musicians, Board, and staff, will help inform the selection of the Lima Symphony Orchestra’s next Music Director.

Through this two-year process, the LSO looks forward to introducing the Lima community to 12 exceptional artistic leaders and inviting audiences to play an active role in shaping the Orchestra’s future.