Queensland (NZ) Youth Orchestras (QYO) has appointed Simon Hewett [pictured] as music director, effective next January. He succeeds founder John Curro, who passed away last November. A native of Brisbane, Hewett has been principal conductor of … » Read

Lovers of classical music and opera in Calgary, Alberta, are in for a long dry spell. As of June 25, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Calgary Opera both announced dark seasons. The orchestra cancelled fall concerts until December 16; … » Read

Making your way as a black classical musician in the U.S. poses an extraordinary challenge. Less than two percent of American orchestra members are of African descent. “It is,” says Lee Pringle, founder of Charleston's Colour of Music … » Read

Cristina Rocca, longtime associate to Riccardo Muti, VP for artistic planning of the Chicago Symphony since 2015, is to exit the U.S. for London, where she will become artistic director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), starting … » Read

Opera Australia’s Ring cycle, planned for November and December in Brisbane, will proceed on schedule, according to Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. “I am very confident,” he said by phone last week. “I just wrote a … » Read

When the pandemic forced the postponement of White Snake Project’s September premiere of the poli-sci-fi opera Cosmic Cowboy , an exploration of colonization, the opera company’s creator and librettist Cerise Jacobs quickly came up … » Read

Ankush Kumar Bahl, onetime protégé of Kurt Masur and assistant to Jaap van Zweden, is to be the next music director of the Omaha Symphony, effective in the 2021-22 season. He succeeds Thomas Wilkins, who ends his 16-year tenure at … » Read

The Philadelphia Orchestra held a top-drawer party on June 20 with an impressive guest list that included Steve Martin, Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Nicola Benedetti, Wynton Marsalis, Renée Fleming, and, of course, the orchestra and its … » Read

Last week, the Nashville Symphony cancelled its entire 2020-21 season . Today, that orchestra’s COO Steven Brosvik was announced as the new CEO of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO). He will succeed Paul Meecham, who left suddenly last … » Read

As Texas Governor Greg Abbott was announcing an all-time high in Covid-19 cases late Tuesday, the Houston Grand Opera announced the cancellation of all performances through April 16, 2021, when it will present the company premiere of Missy … » Read