MEDIA CONTACT
Janelle Harrison
janelleh@reveilleinc.com 

The globally recognized conductor will also assume the position of music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, lead the Farmers & Merchants Bank Family Musical Mornings Series, and serve in an essential supportive role to Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley 

View Photos

Pacific Symphony announces the appointment of Moon Doh as assistant conductor starting in the 2026-27 season. An internationally recognized conductor, educator, and community advocate, Doh will work closely with Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley while leading several of the Symphony’s education and family programs, including serving as music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra.

“We welcome Moon Doh to Pacific Symphony. He is a distinguished musician and impactful global citizen,” said Shelley. “I admire how he builds community through music and the creative ways connects with audiences of all ages through classical music. I look forward to working closely with him as a trusted artistic collaborator whose leadership will strengthen every aspect of Pacific Symphony’s work on and off the stage.” 

In his role as assistant conductor, Doh will conduct the Pacific Symphony’s Farmers & Merchants Bank Family Musical Mornings series and the Frieda Belinfante Class Act Youth Concerts, in addition to being the music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. Simultaneously, he will continue his role as music director of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra in Western Pennsylvania. 

Recognized for making classical music more welcoming and accessible, Doh has showcased his commitment to community outside of the concert hall. Throughout his career, he has hosted library concerts, community talks, and children’s programs, creating meaningful connections between orchestras and their local neighbors. Before joining the Pittsburgh Symphony, he served as artistic director and conductor of the Flora Symphony Orchestra in Cologne, Germany, where he launched the ensemble’s first live-stream concert series and expanded educational partnerships with local music educators. Prior to leading the Flora Symphony, he studied orchestral conducting under Rüdiger Bohn at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf, graduating with honors. 

As a passionate mentor to young musicians, Doh has conducted youth ensembles across Europe and Asia, and continues to coach and collaborate with student musicians throughout the greater Pittsburgh region. This experience will support him in leading the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO), bringing his extensive knowledge of music education to the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles program. PSYO represents students from more than 26 schools across Southern California and is one of the leading pre-professional training orchestras in the nation. It provides students in grades 9-12 with advanced artistic and technical training that cultivates musical excellence, personal growth, and lifelong engagement with the art of orchestral performance. 

Doh will also conduct the Frieda Belinfante Class Act Youth Concerts, which bring thousands of elementary school students to the concert hall for an orchestral performance after receiving music appreciation lessons from a dedicated Pacific Symphony musician throughout the year. Class Act strives to enhance existing school music programs by providing additional musical experience through Pacific Symphony. The program focuses on six main “contact points” with schools, working to increase awareness of and involvement with symphonic music for elementary school students, their families and educators.

While earning his bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, he worked with asylum seekers in Hungary, children in underserved communities in Bangladesh, and justice-impacted individuals in Baltimore. In Pittsburgh, he served on the Board of Violence Prevention Network USA, an organization supporting individuals at risk of radicalization.

“In searching for an assistant conductor, we strove to find a leader who can thrive across artistic, educational and community engagement responsibilities,” said John Forsyte, president and CEO of Pacific Symphony. “Moon Doh will be a remarkable fit in supporting Alexander Shelley during his inaugural season and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Pacific Symphony team.”

Read more about Moon Doh in his bio.

About Pacific Symphony

Founded in 1978, Pacific Symphony welcomes Alexander Shelley for his inaugural season as Artistic & Music Director in 2026-27, building on nearly five decades of artistic growth, innovation, and community impact. His inaugural season reflects an ambitious artistic vision that blends core symphonic masterworks, contemporary voices, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to expanding access to orchestral music. Today, Pacific Symphony is recognized as a major cultural force in Southern California and performs as a resident company of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.

Pacific Symphony features an expansive range of programming through the Classical Series, the beloved Pops Series led by Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, SummerFest at the Great Park Live Amphitheater in Irvine, and engaging Family Musical Mornings concerts for young children and their families. Signature cultural concerts for Lunar New Year and Nowruz are joyful musical celebrations that promote understanding and appreciation of the arts from around the world—a priority for Pacific Symphony, which is dedicated to the power of music to unite and inspire. The Symphony in the Cities program brings free outdoor concerts and interactive musical activities to cities across Orange County, making live symphonic music accessible to all.

Through artistic excellence and a deep commitment to community engagement, Pacific Symphony continues to shape the cultural life of Southern California while expanding the reach and relevance of symphonic music for future generations. 

###