April 09--Austrian conductor David Danzmayr will step down as music director of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra at the end of the 2015-16 season, his fourth with the south suburban ensemble, the orchestra announced Thursday.
Danzmayr, who also serves as music director of the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Oh., is in negotiations to become music director of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in Croatia, according to the announcement.
He is credited with helping to make the Illinois Philharmonic among the best of the several professional orchestras operating in the Chicago area, also for enlarging its repertory to include American music in each program.
A search committee plans to interview candidates for the position this summer. Guest conductors will lead the 2016-17 season, and a new music director is expected to be in place by the start of the 2017-18 season.
