HANS VONK TO SUCCEED SLATKIN WITH SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY

Dutch conductor Hans Vonk has been named music director and conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Vonk, 52, succeeds Leonard Slatkin, who recently was appointed the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Slatkin will become the conductor laureate during the 1995-96 season.

Vonk, who will assume his new position after the 1995-96 season, currently is the chief conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra.

In recently accepting the position, Vonk said he would focus and expand the orchestra's artistry and refinement.

He will conduct between 12 and 16 of the orchestra's 24 subscription weeks.

Slatkin endorsed Vonk's selection, and said he "brings a very different kind of skill to the orchestra -- a different kind of approach to programming and interpretation than I've had -- and this I think is quite valuable and important. It's time for a change in St.. Louis."

The symphony also has created an entirely new conducting position. That person, a strategic planner, will be experienced in experimenting with concert formats and series.

In addition to working in Cologne, Vonk is the principal guest conductor of the Netherlands radio Philharmonic, and previously served as chief conductor of the Dresden Staatskapell, the oldest orchestra in Europe. Among his predecessors in the latter position was Richard Wagner.

He also has had a strong recording career, which currently is focussing on the Schumann symphonies and solo concertos.

Jessie Vonk, the conductor's wife of 25 years, is a former soloist with the Netherlands National Ballet. They will reside in St. Louis.

Vonk will guest-conduct the Saint Louis Symphony during two subscription series weekends during the 1995-96 season. During the upcoming season, he also will guest-conduct with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the national, Detroit, Montreal, Dallas and Seattle symphony orchestras.