The Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra is looking for a new music director. Longtime music director, Fusao Kajima, will step into the post of resident conductor for the 2008-09 season.

“We are going to decide what sort of structure we want in place – traditional, shared – and then start the search,” said orchestra CEO Jennifer McCausland.

The changes accompany a major fundraising initiative that is designed to raise the salaries of the Philharmonic’s musicians to more competitive levels, McCausland added.

“The BPO is extremely grateful to Maestro Kajima,” McCausland said, “and we look forward to our continuing association with him in the coming season, when the orchestra will offer an exciting spectrum of new programming.”