Baltimore audiences have barely had a chance to get to know Mei-Ann Chen, the BSO's assistant conductor and League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow, but she's well on the way toward a career. She has just been named music director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the fourth person to hold that title in the ensemble's 58-year history. She succeeds David Loebel and begins her tenure next fall. With the Baltimore Symphony, the Taiwan-born Chen has been primarily involved in conducting family concerts this season; she's half-way through a one year appointment at the BSO. In Monday's press release, Paul Bert, head of the Memphis Symphony's music director selection committee, says: "After two years in the search process and hearing four wonderful candidates conduct this season, we are very pleased and excited that Mei-Ann Chen will be joining us. Mei-Ann has a great passion for music and the role it can play on the concert stage, in community engagement programs, and especially in our education system. She sees music as a celebration of life and something that can bring people from all backgrounds and age groups together to share great music. We feel very fortunate that we are able to have Mei-Ann, a true rising star, lead our orchestra in the coming years."