The Kammerakademie Potsdam has extended François Leleux’s tenure as Artistic Director until summer 2030, following a unanimous decision to renew his contract early. Appointed to the role this season, Leleux made his debut with the German orchestra in September and has since been praised for his dynamic approach to programming and musicianship. Alongside his work in Potsdam, he is currently serving a four-year term as the first-ever Principal Guest Artist of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Riccardo Chailly’s tenure as Music Director of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra has been extended until the end of 2028. Appointed to the post in 2016, when he succeeded Claudio Abbado, Chailly will continue to lead concerts at the festival’s spring and summer editions, including the official opening, with the renewed agreement also encompassing international touring projects and future collaborations with the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra.
Christian Blex has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for the 2026–27 to 2028–29 seasons. Winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award in 2025, Blex has served as assistant to Kirill Petrenko at the Berliner Philharmoniker since 2022, after winning the Siemens Conductors Scholarship. Blex, who made his debut with the MSO in September 2025, will work closely with Chief Conductor Martyn Brabbins and Honorary Guest Conductor Rainer Honeck.
Nathalie Stutzmann will become Music and Artistic Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, beginning her four-year term in September 2026. She succeeds Kazuki Yamada and becomes the first woman to hold the position. Named an Officer in the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco in 2014, Stutzmann’s appointment follows a long-standing collaboration with the orchestra, including operatic projects such as L’elisir d’amore (2014) and Tannhäuser (2017), alongside numerous symphonic concerts.
Rafael Payare has extended his tenure as Music and Artistic Director of the San Diego Symphony until the end of the 2028–29 season, marking a decade at the helm. Appointed in 2019, Payare has overseen a period of significant artistic and institutional growth, including the opening of two major venues: the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on San Diego Bay and the restored Jacobs Music Center in downtown San Diego.
Anna Handler has been appointed Chief Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from September 2026. A former Gustavo Dudamel Fellow, Handler is currently Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and began her tenure as Kapellmeister of Deutsche Oper Berlin in September 2025. Handler’s first concert as Chief Conductor will open the Orchestra’s 60th anniversary season at the Ulster Hall in September 2026. She succeeds Daniele Rustioni, who became Music Director Laureate at the end of the 2023–24 season.
