The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) has appointed Seattle Opera principal guest conductor Asher Fisch as its new principal conductor and artistic advisor for a three-year term from 2014.

A protégée of Daniel Barenboim, Fisch began his conducting career as Barenboim’s assistant in the 1990s, and has since served as music director of Israeli Opera and Vienna Volksoper.

The conductor first worked with Perth-based WASO in 1999 and has returned on four more occasions, most recently in September 2011 when he conducted three concerts of Dvořák, Saint-Saëns and Franck.

‘I am excited about beginning this new journey with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra,' said Fisch. ‘During the time I have worked with WASO I have been particularly impressed with the calibre of the musicians. To me, this orchestra is a wonderful blend of British professionalism, American work ethic and German precision.’