Rockford Symphony Orchestra taps new Music Director

After three years of searching, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra has a new music director.

Yaniv Attar was announced as the new music director Wednesday by the orchestra.

“Not only is Yaniv an incredibly talented conductor, he is also passionate about music, music education, and community engagement,” Rockford Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Julie Thomas said in a news release. “I’m excited for what’s ahead for the Rockford Symphony Orchestra under his leadership.”

Along with being the new music director in Rockford, Attar is the music director of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Partner with Northwest Sinfonietta.

Attar has studied with Israel Edelson in Jerusalem, at the Julliard School in New York, and at the Royal College of Music in London.

Attar, who is also a classical guitarist, is a native of Israel and makes his home in Bellingham, Washington with his wife and two children.

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra began the search for a new music director in the fall of 2019 and the field of 200 was narrowed to nine finalists.

After being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the nine finalists began visiting Rockford last January for one week each.

During their visit, finalists got to know the community, rehearsed with the musicians and conducted a full concert.

The community and musicians all participated in the process by filling out surveys after each performance.

Attar was the first music director finalist who visited Rockford in January of 2022. His first concert as the Rockford Symphony Orchestra's music director will be in the fall of 2023.

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1934, is one of about 400 professional orchestras in the U.S.