Novo succeeds Leslie Dunner, who left in 2003 after his contract was not renewed—a move that drew protests from musicians and city officials. Dunner has since been named music director of Chicago's Joffrey Ballet.
"Jos_-Luis Novo is the best choice for ASO music director, a job with three complex, and at times overlapping, roles of principal conductor, artistic director, and orchestra advocate," said search committee chair Kathleen B. Eisenhart in a statement. "We found him to be highly intelligent and innately musical, exacting and yet congenial."
Novo first conducted the ASO in September 2004. He will return to lead the season-ending concerts in May before officially taking up his position on July 1. He has signed a four-year contract.