Mark Latham, a doctoral student in the Department of Conducting at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance, has been named the LSO's Music Director for the 2008-2009 season. Latham has served as music director and conductor of several orchestras including: the Avalon Chamber Ensemble (St. John’s, Canada), the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (Massachusetts), the Nashua Chamber Orchestra (New Hampshire), and the Concert Youth Orchestra in Manchester, NH.

Since returning to graduate studies at the University of Michigan, he has directed both the Campus Philharmonic and Campus Symphony Orchestras. In 2006, Latham was invited to conduct the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra and the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra in concert. For several summers he has conducted the CAMMAC orchestra in Quebec.

Originally trained as a violinist at the Guildhall School of Music in London, England, Latham played in the Atlantic String Quartet in Canada, was Principal Second Violin in the New Hampshire Symphony, under conductor Kenneth Kiesler, and played in Emmanuel Music in Boston.

A keen advocate of new music, Latham has conducted numerous world premieres, including several commissions, and he has had his own works performed in the US, Canada and the UK. During his years in Canada, he played in the contemporary improvisational ensemble, The Black Auks, with whom he made several recordings. Latham is currently embarking on his second year as a DMA student of orchestral conducting at the University of Michigan.