Mei-Ann Chen, the final candidate to audition for the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director job, has been named music director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Mei-Ann Chen conducts the Lexington Philharmonic in a rehearsal March 24, 2009. Photo by Rich Copley | LexGo.

Chen was one of the favorites for the Philharmonic post after her March 2009 audition. But shortly after her appearance, she pulled out of the race on the advice of her manager who said she should not take on the Lexington job in light of her rapidly growing career. Chen, then assistant conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, had already been named as a candidate for the Memphis post when she auditioned in Lexington.

In winning the job, she beat the other Lexington candidate who pulled out of contention, Alastair Willis, who auditioned here in February 2009.

Scott Terrell was named the Philharmonic’s new music director in April 2009, and continues his inaugural season at 8 p.m. March 5 with piano soloist Anne-Marie McDermott performing Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major in the Singletary Center for the Arts.