Florida Philharmonic Names Director

MIAMI (AP) - Joseph Silverstein, a concertmaster for more than two decades at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has been named acting music director for the Florida Philharmonic.

Silverstein, 69, a violinist and conductor, is artistic adviser to 10 orchestras in the United States and Canada, including the philharmonic. His appointment, announced Nov. 27, comes on the heels of the abrupt resignation of James Judd and budget troubles at the philharmonic. Judd led the organization to new artistic heights and through a player's strike during his 14-year tenure with the orchestra.
"I am well aware of the challenges many artistic and cultural organizations are facing and the Florida Philharmonic has not been immune,'' said Silverstein, who will be director for 18 months while officials search for a permanent replacement.

The largest cultural organization in south Florida, the Florida Philharmonic has 84 players and a budget of about $10 million. It performs concerts in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Silverstein is also a faculty member at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass.