Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard has been named Seattle Symphony’s next music director.
Currently the orchestra’s principal guest conductor, Dausgaard will succeed Ludovic Morlot at the start of the 2019-20 season, for a four-year term.
The 54-year-old has been principal guest conductor in Seattle since 2014, and has proved popular with the city’s audiences, reciving standing ovations for his Seattle Symphony Sibelius Festival performances in 2015.
Dausgaard told The Seattle Times: “I am in awe of this orchestra; I’m their biggest fan. I love their excellence, curiosity, and ability to play with abandon. My collaboration with the Seattle musicians fills me with joy. We have something quite fantastic together, and I want to take them in many new directions with many more styles and composers.”
“I hope our amazing audience will follow us wherever we take them — even to the point of doing a concert without telling anyone in advance what we will play!”
Leslie Jackson Chihuly, Seattle Symphony board chair, said: “For several years, it has been clear that Thomas’ partnership with our musicians is grounded in deep mutual respect and admiration. His deepening relationship with the orchestra has produced some of the most electrifying concerts we’ve heard in Benaroya Hall these last few years. His work has been a wonderful complement to Ludovic’s exemplary artistic leadership.
“Ludovic and Thomas share many creative instincts which have shaped and contributed quite naturally to the exciting evolution of our music making. Thomas is simply the right leader for the next step in our artistic development. We greatly look forward to welcoming him to our Symphony family, and we know he will bring profound inspiration and warmth to our community.”