Levy Gives Up Orchestra Post

Micah Levy, founder of the Orange County Chamber Orchestra and music director throughout its 11-year history, will leave his post to pursue a musical arts doctorate, the orchestra announced Monday.

Levy will be replaced as music director and conductor by Diana Halprin, the orchestra’s concertmaster since 1987. Halprin becomes the only woman to hold the music director post for a professional orchestra in Orange County. She also has served as conductor of the New York Kammermusiker and as resident conductor of the Brockport Music Festival in New York.

The Orange County Chamber Orchestra performs at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Its existence was threatened in 1991 by falling ticket sales and related financial difficulties, and the group had to cancel three of its planned six concerts that season. The group played four concerts in its recently concluded 11th season, and will expand to five for its 1994-95 season.

Levy will study at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore as a doctor of musical arts candidate, in a two-year program. Monday’s announcement was made in a faxed statement from Barbara Palermo, the orchestra’s president.

In the release, Palermo said that Levy has been asked to return to conduct future concerts and will have a new title: founder/music director emeritus. Neither Levy nor Palermo could be reached for further comment.