The Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra has named John Kim as interim music director. Kim, the orchestra’s concertmaster since 2004 and one of the Northwest’s leading violinists, will take over Nov. 14 for current resident conductor, Fusao Kajima, while the orchestra and its board of directors search for Kajima’s successor.

Kim has performed in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Arts and the White House, and is a prominent educator as well as performer. He has taught at the Marrowstone Music Festival, Evergreen Music Festival, Vivace Chamber Players, Bellevue Youth Symphony camps, Tacoma Youth Symphony Association and Garfield High School Orchestra program.

He is the Director of the Seattle Conservatory of Music’s Eastside Chamber Music Program, violin coach for the Seattle Youth Symphony, and a private teacher in Bellevue, Issaquah and Bothell.

“As concertmaster, John Kim was already a significant asset to the Bellevue Philharmonic. As interim music director, the future potential of his leadership is extraordinary,” said Bellevue Philharmonic CEO, Jennifer McCausland.

In other Bellevue Philharmonic news:

The orchestra has inaugurated a twice-monthly Senior Series of chamber recitals in Eastside retirement homes and community centers;

The popular Little Maestros Series is set to deliver its 14th concert for newborn to 6-year-olds on the Eastside;

The board of directors approved a 44 percent pay increase for the players, beginning with the first concert of the season on Oct. 4 – a gala program featuring renowned American cellist, Matt Haimovitz, in the Dvorak Cello Concerto.

For more information about the BPO and its programs, contact the Philharmonic’s CEO, Jennifer McCausland, at 425-455-4171, or visit the website, www.bellevuephil.org.