By Town Crier Staff Report

The Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra has named Benjamin Simon its new music director.

Simon, who is also music director of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, is only the second music director in PACO’s 36-year history. He succeeds founder William Whitson, who died last August.

As music director, Simon will provide artistic leadership to PACO’s five orchestra ensembles, ranging from elementary through high school age. He will conduct several orchestras himself, coordinate the artistic staff and oversee the PACO music education program.

A native of San Francisco, Simon has performed around the world as a violist with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Naumberg New World String Quartet, and as principal violist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Los Angeles and New Century Chamber Orchestras.

He is currently on the music faculty of UC Berkeley.