The maestro’s the one in a hoodie

At a session last night with a student orchestra at Peabody Conservatory, I went looking for the music director Ken Lam and couldn’t spot him in the crowded room. ‘Ken’s the one in the hoodie,’ said my companion. And sure enough he was.

A former lawyer with a blue-chip firm in the city of London, Ken is making big strides in his second career. He has a new orchestra – the Charleston Symphony – and a brand-new concert hall. But he keeps the wardrobe cool.

Here’s how they see him in Charleston:

It’s casual Friday at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO) office, and new music director (and conductor) Ken Lam wears a hoodie and shorts, checkered socks emerging from his sneakers. No intimidating, international award-winner here—just a man Über excited about his job.

Feature here.