Phil Orch Fills Diaz Vacancy From Within

It isn’t often that principal positions come open in a major orchestra, so when the Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal violist, Roberto Diaz, announced that he was leaving to accept a position as head of the prestigious Curtis Institute, there was no shortage of interest in succeeding him. Auditions for the plum spot were held this week, and when the dust cleared, the Philadelphians promoted longtime associate principal Choong-Jin Chang to the top chair.