Atlanta’s loss now L.A.’s gain

Alexander Mickelthwate, assistant conductor of the Atlanta Symphony, has been appointed assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, succeeding Yasuo Shinozaki.

Mickelthwate, 33, whose tenure begins in the fall, was selected from eight finalists, narrowed from more than 150 applicants from around the world. He will serve a two-year term. Miguel Harth-Bedoya remains associate conductor.

“The Los Angeles Philharmonic is the most exciting orchestra in America,” Mickelthwate said Wednesday from Atlanta. “With the new Disney Hall, the new Hollywood Bowl shell, the ‘Tristan’ project, Schoenberg’s ‘Gurrelieder’ -- just amazing programming -- this appointment is so thrilling to me. Los Angeles is bubbling with ideas.”

Born in Germany to a musical family, Mickelthwate studied at the Musikhochschule in Karlsruhe, then moved to the United States to do two years of graduate work in Baltimore. For the last three years, he has been assistant conductor in Atlanta. He was also a finalist in recent searches for music directors of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, the Winston-Salem (Tenn.) Symphony and the Asheville (Tenn.) Symphony.

As part of his Philharmonic duties, he will lead many of the orchestra’s education and community programs, conduct the Green Umbrella series concert in November and serve as the backup conductor for music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and guest conductors.