Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Appointment of Music Director

Osmo Vänskä, a Finnish conductor, was selected as the second Music Director after founding the Foundation. He is a conductor honored in the global classical music field with his outstanding musical competence and leadership.

He was engaged by orchestras such as the Minnesota Orchestra and the Lahti Symphony and has built substantial relationship for more than 20 years. In particular, he had upgraded Lahti Symphony from a local orchestra to a global level orchestra and has led a remarkable growth myth. That is why he got the nickname Orchestra Builder.

Vänskä’s first term as the Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will begin from January 2020 for the next three years.

Photo credit: Joel Larson

In addition to conducting various performances (subscription concerts, public concerts, tours), he plans to participate in the overall operation of the orchestra including planning, education, public relations, marketing, financing and issues regarding orchestra members. The inaugural concert will be held in February 2020.

He had received enthusiastic responses from members, audiences and critics as guest conductor in Seoul in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The selection of a new Music Director was a reflection of strong intention to create a healthy orchestra through democratic communication and deliberation process.

The Conductor Recommendation Advisory Committee, launched in March 2016 reviewed 318 domestic and international conductors, and selected 37 candidates. Amongst them, 13 candidates were invited as guest conductor for Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017. Opinions of experts and audiences were gathered, and the candidates for the Music Director was chosen compressively by reflecting the opinions of the orchestra members.

Photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Four years after the departure of the former Artistic Director, Myung-Whun Chung, in December 2015, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is ready to make a leap forward in terms of artistic and financial stabilisation of the foundation, interaction with citizens, enhancement of its international stature by welcoming Vänskä as its next Music Director.

Click here to visit Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s website.