The Honolulu Symphony has chosen Jon Magnussen, a composer and educator, as its director of education.

Born in Sierra Leone and raised on Kaua'i and O'ahu, Magnussen was for the past seven years the artist in residence at Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study. His compositions have been performed by the American Composers Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, New York Virtuoso Singers and the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. His talent has been recognized by the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts and Meet the Composer.

Magnussen graduated from Punahou School and holds doctoral and master's degrees from the Juilliard School in New York, plus degrees from the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieur de Musique de Paris and Cornell University.

"It's so gratifying to be able to come back home, where my roots are, and to make a difference," Magnussen said in a statement. "To be able to reach out into the communities and speak the language of music with them is a wonderful gift. Our symphony musicians are world-class, and I'm honored to be able to work with them in promoting a long-term love of music and music-making."

Magnussen will work with the orchestra to fulfill its commitment to reach the statewide community through education programs. After state funding for the symphony's education program was reduced in 1995, education activities were limited to O'ahu audiences.

In May, with a grant from the state Department of Human Services, the orchestra was able to travel to the Big Island and reach more than 3,000 youth in their schools, as well as offer their families a free community concert.

More Neighbor Island outreach programs are being planned.

The Honolulu Symphony is a professional, full-time orchestra. For more information, go to www.honolulusymphony.com.