Music director

A music(al) director, sometimes known as a director of music, is the person in charge of the musical components of a performance, a production, or a group of individuals. These individuals would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the director of music for a film, the director of music for a music station, the man in charge of musical activities or the head of the music department in a school, the coordinator of the musical ensembles in a university, college, or organisation (but just not usually the head of the academic music department), the head bandmaster of a military band, the head organist and cymbalist in a church, and the (the title given to a director of music at a cathedral, particularly in England).

In many symphony orchestras, the term of "music director" or "musical director" is used to denote the chief conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra. In the United States, the phrase "music director" is most often used to refer to the leader of an orchestra. It is more typical in European orchestras to use the titles "primary conductor" or "chief conductor," which are used to denote the conductor who leads the bulk of a certain orchestra's performances in a season. Usually, in musical theatre and operas, the music director is responsible for the whole musical performance, which includes ensuring that the cast is familiar with the music, directing the musical interpretation of the actors and pit orchestra, and leading the orchestra.