''We held their opinions in high regard and know they will concur and rally around this decision," English said of the dissenting musicians.
English said Alsop had accepted the position and would sign a contract soon. He refused to release details of the contract. Messages left on Alsop's cellphone weren't returned, and her publicist said Alsop wouldn't make a statement yesterday.
The musicians, who were rehearsing while the board voted, met the announcement with general silence, said Ellen Orner, a violinist who described herself as ''one of the very few musicians who are happy."
Another supporter, Mary Bisson, who plays horn, said, ''Marin is a top-notch conductor and we're lucky to have her. I really don't understand the negative reaction. I'm delighted she's coming."
But many other musicians were disappointed by what they called the ''premature conclusion of the search process." They felt the board disregarded their desire to have the search extended until Thanksgiving.
''However, this will not dampen our enthusiasm and zest for music making," said Jane Marvine, an English horn player and chairwoman of a committee that represents the orchestra in contractual talks with management.
Julia Kirchhausen, a spokeswoman for the American Symphony Orchestra League, said that while female conductors have headed orchestras before, Alsop's appointment marks the first time a woman has headed one of the size or status of the Baltimore Symphony.
Alsop, 48, is principal conductor at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Britain. The New York native will succeed Yuri Temirkanov, who is stepping down at the end of next season. She is slated to make her Tanglewood debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Aug. 20.
When she was appointed head of Bournemouth in 2001, she became the first woman to direct a major British orchestra. Before that, she was music director for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for 12 years.
The daughter of professional classical musicians, Alsop studied violin at the Juilliard School of Music. She trained as a conductor under Leonard Bernstein.
