John Adams has been named the first-ever Creative Chair of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning next season, the orchestra's first with Music Director Designate Gustavo Dudamel. "John’s work, vision and big knowledge of all music, especially new music, is so deep," says Dudamel. "For me, this will be a special partnership, one where we will create new opportunities."

"I’m thrilled to be able to be part of Gustavo’s plan for the orchestra’s future," Adams replied. "Over the past 25 years the Philharmonic has consistently demonstrated how a major American symphony orchestra can integrate the music of our own time in all aspects of its life. That enthusiasm for the new is part of this unique orchestra’s DNA."

The 2009/10 season gets under way with the Opening Night Gala concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall on October 8, pairing Mahler's First Symphony with the world premiere of Adams's new LA Phil commission, City Noir.

As part of his artistic advisory role as Creative Chair, Adams has assembled West Coast: Left Coast, a three-week, multi-genre exploration of the music of California, beginning with a November 21 preview concert by Kronos Quartet, which has been named the festival's ensemble-in-residency. Joining the group for the event are special guests Matmos and composer Terry Riley.

The festival officially gets under way with three encore performances, November 27–29, by Dudamel and the Philharmonic of Adams's City Noir, along with LA Variations, a piece by Dudamel's predecessor at the Phil, Esa-Pekka Salonen.

On December 1, Kronos and Adams join forces with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group to perform works by Ingram Marshall, Harry Partch, and Frank Zappa.

Kronos returns December 3 and 4, joining the orchestra and conductor Leonard Slatkin, for the world premiere of a new LA Phil commission by Thomas Newman.

On December 5 and 6, Adams will take the helm again, leading the LA Phil and violinist Leila Josefowicz on a program that includes the composer's The Dharma at Big Sur and Leonard Rosenman's Suite from Rebel Without a Cause.

Joshua Redman will come to Disney Hall on December 8 for a program titled A Night of the Beats with fellow saxophonist Joe Lovano and bassist Christian McBride.

Also performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the 2009/10 season is soprano Dawn Upshaw, who will join Dudamel and the orchestra for a number of performances, prior to the West Coast: Left Coast festival, November 12-15. The program features songs by Berio and Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. Upshaw returns in March 2010 for a recital with pianist Emanual Ax.

For the complete, chronological list of the season's concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, visit laphil.com.

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The current season, Salonen's last as music director, features two upcoming Adams-led performances as well: On May 15 and 17, the composer will conduct the orchestra in performances of his latest opera, A Flowering Tree, directed by Peter Sellars and starring Jessica Rivera and Russell Thomas, both of whom appear on the work's recent first recording for Nonesuch. A few days prior, on May 13, Adams will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group on a program that concludes with his Son of Chamber Symphony. And a few days before that, pianist Yefim Bronfman joins the orchestra for two performances of Adams's The Chairman Dances, May 9 and 10.