Subsequently, executive director Tony Beadle left the organization. Roland Valliere, began his tenure with as executive director of the orchestra on August 3, 2009. During the 2009–2010 season, the Columbus Symphony resumed performing a full season of classical and pops concerts, its first since the dispute. Jean-Marie Zeitouni served as music director from 2010 to 2014. The orchestra's seventh music director, appointed in 2014, is Rossen Milanov. The noted Bulgarian conductor assumed his duties full-time beginning with the 2015–2016 season. In July 2016, rapper Nelly performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, the Ohio State University Marching Band performed with the group during an annual event hosted by Nationwide Insurance, Picnic with the Pops. Music directors Claude Monteux (1953–1956) Evan Whallon (1956–1982) Christian Badea (1983–1991) Alessandro Siciliani (1991–2003) Gunther Herbig (2003–2006; and 2009–2011; music adviser) Junichi Hirokami (June 1, 2006 – 2008) Jean-Marie Zeitouni (2010–2014) Rossen Milanov (2015–present) Youth Orchestra The Columbus Symphony also sponsors a Youth Orchestra program, directed by Andrés Lopera. The program is divided into four Orchestras, based on ability and age. Junior Strings - grades 3-6 Chamber Strings - grades 6-9 Cadet Orchestra - grades 7-10 Youth Orchestra - grades 9-12 Notable events 1951 - Columbus Little Symphony, conducted by violinist George Hardesty, debuts at the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum. 1960 - Columbus Symphony Chorus is organized as an auditioned all-volunteer ensemble of more than 100 voices. 1970 - The Columbus Symphony Orchestra moves its concerts to a new home, the Ohio Theatre, which was preserved in part to provide an acoustically superior hall for the orchestra. 1974 - A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts enables the Columbus Symphony to produce The Barber of Seville, making the CSO one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras producing opera. The CSO continued to produce staged operas each season until the establishment of the independent Opera Columbus company in 1981. 1978 - A grant from Battelle Foundation enables the orchestra to hire additional full-time musicians, giving the institution a core of 13 professional players and helping it to achieve a higher quality of performance. 1999 - The CSO performs with Luciano Pavarotti for a sold-out crowd at the Schottenstein Center. 2001 - As part of its year-long, 50th anniversary celebration, the Symphony and Chorus perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 2008 - The orchestra faces financial crisis. Picnic with the