 Since Zdeněk Mácal was a resident of nearby Laguna Niguel, California in addition to being a conductor with a strong resume, many considered him the early front-runner; however, he had a number of other positions already to his name, and his busy schedule was thought to be a likely deterrent.He pulled himself out of the running before the 1989-90 season began.By late 1989, Lawrence Foster was the odds-on favorite to be named Music Director.