After 26 years at the helm of the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwartz is stepping down as music director to become conductor laureate. His replacement is 35-year-old French conductor Ludovic Morlot, who was named music director designate on Tuesday and takes on the role of music director in 2011-12 for a six-year term. Morlot will conduct a minimum of eight weeks during his first season as director and will conduct a minimum of 13 weeks during the following seasons.

“I am thrilled and grateful to be given this wonderful opportunity to lead the Seattle Symphony into a new era,” he said. “I am eager to share many musical moments and emotions with the orchestra and its faithful audience, and to meet new concertgoers in the beautiful Benaroya Hall.”

Morlot made his debut with the Seattle Symphony in October 2009 and later that season stepped in successfully for Roberto Abbado, despite difficulties caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Since 2001 he has maintained a close relationship with the Boston Symphony and was the orchestra’s assistant conductor from 2004-07. Highlights of his 2010-11 season include debuts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, NDR Hamburg, Orchestra de la Monnaie in Brussels and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, plus returns to the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

Charlotte Smith