COMPOSER HARBISON NAMED TO L.A. PHILHARMONIC POSTS

The appointments of American composer John Harbison to the posts of new-music adviser to the Los Angeles Philharmonic during the 1985-86 season and Philharmonic composer-in-residence during 1986-87 have been made official.

As announced in The Times June 8, both posts will be administered by Meet the Composer Inc.; they will be funded through major grants from Exxon Corp., the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Harbison, a native of Massachusetts, succeeds William Kraft, the Philharmonic’s first composer-in-residence, who held the post for four years.

In both capacities, the Philharmonic Assn. has now announced, Harbison will work closely with Andre Previn, incoming music director of the Philharmonic. During 1985-86, Harbison will be in residence for several periods throughout the season and will participate in concerts by the Philharmonic New Music Group, of which he now assumes directorship. When Harbison becomes composer-in-residence, he will be in Los Angeles for six months of the winter season.