By Jon W. Sparks - The Commercial Appeal -

Stilian Kirov, associate conductor for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, has been named assistant conductor for the Seattle Symphony.

Kirov, who is also music director of the Memphis Youth Symphony, will continue his work in Memphis until September. The 27-year-old Bulgarian-born conductor was hired by the MSO in September 2010.

He has conducted several concerts, including last year's Sunset Symphony. Just months after he arrived, he made an impression at the 14th Dimitris Mitropoulos International Competition in Athens, Greece. Out of 217 conductor candidates worldwide, he won a third-prize trophy and was selected by the players for the Orchestra Preference Award. Last year Kirov won a prestigious conducting fellowship with the Seattle Symphony, which led to his appointment.

Before coming to the MSO, Kirov was music director and founder of the Art Symphony Orchestra in New York and has conducted major orchestras in France, Germany, Italy, the United States and Bulgaria. He graduated from the Orchestral Conducting Program of The Juilliard School.

His tenure with the MSO has done much to launch his career. "Memphis will always be home," he said. "I’ve really, really treasured all the time I’ve spent here, and particularly the direction I’ve had from (MSO music director) Mei-Ann Chen.”

The MSO has begun a search for a new assistant conductor to begin work next September.