MUSIC

The Baton Is Passed: Heiichiro Ohyama is the new music director of the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles, succeeding founder Akira Kirukawa, who died in 1989. Ohyama has resigned as principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic--of which he was also assistant conductor for three years--to pursue a conducting career. “I’m very excited about this,” Ohyama said Tuesday. “The organization is going through a tremendous building process, aiming toward professional excellence. We feel there is a market for this kind of orchestra, to contribute to cultural exchange, bringing Oriental soloists and composers here.” Ohyama remains music director of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of the La Jolla SummerFest. His first concert as music director of the Japanese Philharmonic will be March 27 at the Japan America Theatre, with violinist Asako Urushihara.