Conductor Ronald Feldman has been named music director of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, effective immediately. The announcement was made Monday, after a search of more than a year and a half. Feldman steps into the post vacated by longtime music director Jonathan McPhee, who left Longwood at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Feldman is on the faculties of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Berklee College of Music. He is artist in residence and chamber music coordinator as a faculty member of Williams College, and is music director of the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra.