The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is welcoming a new musical director

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is welcoming a new musical director.

Peter Askim will serve as the Symphony’s fourth music director after 39 seasons with Steven Errante.

A native of Maine, Askim has a storied career as a composer and director.

He previously conducted the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, the Knoxville Orchestra, and the Vermont Orchestra among others.

He also was a member of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and taught at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
He’s also composed music for film and television.

Askim says he’s excited to be taking over to lead Wilmington’s Symphony Orchestra.

“I’ve played with, and conducted lots of orchestras and you just know when you get on the podium, the orchestra knows, and the conductor knows within 20 seconds max if this is going to work or not, and I got on the podium and I said, ‘this is it. This feels really good. It feels like home.”

The orchestra’s opening concert will be held on September 20th at the Wilson Center.