Richmond Philharmonic's new conductor and season

Robert Mirakian, a Chicago-based conductor, has been named the new music director of the Richmond Philharmonic, the city's principal community orchestra.

A Connecticut native and graduate of Indiana University, the University of Illinois and Dartmouth College, Mirakian this summer became general manager and conductor of the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.

He will lead the philharmonic in four concerts at J.R. Tucker High School auditorium, 2910 Parham Road in Henrico County, and a holiday program at the James Center, Ninth and Cary streets in downtown Richmond:

* Oct. 28 (4 p.m., J.R. Tucker) – Sibelius: "Finlandia"; Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 (Michael Goldberg, clarinet); Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica"). (Pre-concert talk at 3 p.m.)

* Dec. 3 (7 p.m., James Center) – "Home for the Holidays."

* March 9 (4 p.m., J.R. Tucker) – Fauré: "Pelléas et Mélisande"; Barber: "Knoxville, Summer of 1915" (Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano); Mussorgsky-Ravel: "Pictures at an Exhibition." (Pre-concert talk at 3 p.m.)

* May 4 (4 p.m., J.R. Tucker) – Rossini: "L'Italiana in Algeri" Overture; Richard Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 (Melissa Musulin, French horn); Rimsky-Korsakov: "Scheherazade." (Pre-concert talk at 3 p.m.)

* June 16 (time TBA, J.R. Tucker) – "Everday Classics" pops concert, with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."

Admission is by donation ($5 per person, $10 per family suggested).

Information: (804) 673-7400.