The buzz surrounding Jonathan Palant has been building for months. On Sunday, North Texas will finally get to see what the musical prodigy can do as he conducts the Turtle Creek Chorale as artistic director for the first time.

Handsome and unimaginably talented, he's the kind of guy we'd absolutely love to hate. If we could just find anything wrong with him.

The 33-year-old has big shoes to fill. He took over for Tim Seelig, who led the chorale for 20 years and whom Dallas' gay community loves more than a Monica Greene restaurant, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez or a pair of designer sunglasses.

We caught up with Palant last week to see how he's doing on the eve of his debut and to get to know him a little better. We still couldn't find anything wrong with him, though.

Q: You and your partner Mark Mullaney have been in Dallas since July. What do you like best so far?

A: The friendliness of the community, the variety and quality of the restaurants, and the weather.

Q: Any particular favorite restaurants?

A: I don't have a favorite yet, but there are a few I've been back to. Café Italia on Lovers, Mai's Vietnamese restaurant on Bryan. And I like Jamba Juice.

Q: What was your first thought when you heard Seelig was leaving?

A: I can't imagine which famous conductor is going to take over the Turtle Creek Chorale.

Q: The interview and selection process was kind of arduous. How was your initial audition with the chorale?

A: That was unbelievable because no matter what the outcome was, I could say I conducted the Turtle Creek Chorale.

Q: How is your rapport with the group?

A: We hold each other in very high esteem and expect a lot of each other.

Q: What's been the biggest challenge in taking over such an esteemed organization?

A: Maintaining the creativity that the chorale is known for. And responding to every e-mail.