Jaap van Zweden named next New York Philharmonic music director

Jaap van Zweden has been named the New York Philharmonic’s next music director from the 2018-19 season. The 55-year-old conductor, who began his career as a violinist, will serve as music director designate in the 2017-18 season, succeeding current NY Phil music director Alan Gilbert. Van Zweden is currently music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

‘This is one of the happiest and most fulfilling days of my life,’ he said. ‘To be asked by the great musicians of the New York Philharmonic and by the board of this iconic institution to be its music director is truly an honour. As musicians, we strive to achieve the best for our audiences in sharing the music of so many gifted composers of the past and present as we look to the future. My heart is full, and my family and I look forward to being true New Yorkers, as I was during my Juilliard days.’

Born in Amsterdam, van Zweden trained as a violinist at the Juilliard School, studying with Dorothy DeLay, before being appointed the youngest ever concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at the age of 19. He began his conducting career 20 years later in 1995 at the encouragement of Leonard Bernstein.

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Photo: Bert Hulselmans