Yaniv Attar, photographed on Jan. 18 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford, IL, was named music director of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra this month. Photo by Chris Nieves/Rockford Register Star.
“After three years of searching, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra has a new music director,” states an unsigned article in the January 18 Rockford Register Star (IL). “Yaniv Attar was announced as the new music director Wednesday … ‘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 … 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 … The Rockford Symphony Orchestra began the search for a new music director in the fall of 2019 … After being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the nine finalists began visiting Rockford last January … The community and musicians all participated in the process by filling out surveys after each performance…. Attar’s first concert as the Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s music director will be in the fall of 2023.”
