Artis—Naples has extended Alexander Shelley’s tenure as Artistic and Music Director until the end of the decade, with an option for further renewal. Now in his second season, Shelley continues to shape the artistic profile of the Naples Philharmonic through new commissions and multidisciplinary collaborations.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has appointed Yiran Zhao and Jakub Przybycień as its new Assistant Conductors for two-year terms beginning with the 2026–27 season. They succeed Samy Rachid and Anna Handler, whose tenures conclude at the end of the forthcoming Tanglewood season. Zhao, a 2025 Conducting Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and national winner of the 2024 American Prize for Composition, is currently a Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music. Przybycień, formerly Assistant Conductor of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalonia, is winner of the 2025 Ernst von Schuch Conducting Prize and a finalist at the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award and International Conducting Competition Rotterdam. Both conductors will make their BSO debuts at Tanglewood in 2027.
Robert Treviño has been appointed Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, commencing his tenure in October 2026 for an initial four-year term. The appointment follows Treviño’s debut with the orchestra in November 2025, where he conducted Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, a performance that led to this appointment. His arrival forms part of the ensemble’s strategic planning for its 160th anniversary during the 2028–29 season. Treviño, who currently serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, maintains an active international career with leading orchestras across Europe, North America and Asia.
Violinist Augustin Hadelich has been named Artistic Partner of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. The multi-year collaboration begins in 2027 and will include a cycle of Mozart’s violin concertos alongside international touring projects. Hadelich first performed with the orchestra at the Salzburg Easter Festival in 2025.
Jeffrey Kahane has stepped down as Music Director of the San Antonio Philharmonic. Appointed as the orchestra’s inaugural Music Director for the 2024–25 season, Kahane played a central role in shaping the artistic identity of the newly re-formed ensemble following the closure of the San Antonio Symphony, forging partnerships with internationally renowned artists while also supporting the organisation as a significant donor. Kahane departs midway through his initial three-year term and has given no public reason for his resignation. The announcement comes during a season in which the San Antonio Philharmonic has cancelled a number of performances amid financial challenges.
Pietro Rizzo has been appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the concert division at the Swiss St Gallen Concert and Theatre, commencing his tenure at the start of the 2026–27 season. He succeeds Modestas Pitrenas and has been awarded a contract for an initial four seasons.
Esa-Pekka Salonen has been named Director of Tanglewood’s 2026 Festival of Contemporary Music by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In this role, he will curate and lead five programmes at Seiji Ozawa Hall, shaping the festival’s exploration of contemporary repertoire through a series of thematically connected concerts. Alongside the festival, Salonen will also conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra during the Tanglewood season and participate in discussions examining the future of orchestral practice.
Christian Reif has been appointed General Music Director of the Wuppertaler Bühnen und Sinfonieorchester, assuming the role from the 2027–28 season following his tenure as Music Director Designate in 2026–27. He succeeds Patrick Hahn, who steps down in summer 2026. Reif, who has served as Chief Conductor of the Gävle Symphony Orchestra since autumn 2023, has recently extended his contract with the Swedish orchestra for an additional two years, continuing until the end of the 2027–28 season. A GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor recognised for his musical integrity, imaginative programming and precise technique, Reif also serves as Music Director of the Lakes Area Music Festival in Minnesota and has appeared with major orchestras across Europe and North America.
