ʃˈɑːɹp ɹᵻtˈeɪnd wˈɪljəm stɹˈɪklənd, ɐ jˈʌŋ kəndˈʌktɚ fɹʌm nˈuː jˈɔːɹk, tə sˈɜːv æz ɪts fˈɜːst mjˈuːzɪk dᵻɹˈɛktɚ ænd kəndˈʌktɚ.
Sharp retained William Strickland, a young conductor from New York, to serve as its first music director and conductor.