Bernard Rands, the British-born composer of nearly 100 works, died in Chicago on March 4, 2026, at the age of 92. A native of Sheffield in northern England, he studied composition first in Wales before moving to Italy. There he became a student … » Read

Thor Steingraber, executive and artistic director of Los Angeles’ Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, is to succeed 15-year veteran Gary Dunning as president and CEO of Vivo Performing Arts (formerly Celebrity Series … » Read

On March 4 the Sphinx Organization announced the recipients of the 2026 Sphinx Medals of Excellence: violinist Nathan Amaral, percussionist Josh Jones, and conductor Na'Zir McFadden. The organization’s highest honor recognizes early-career … » Read

New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has appointed Diya Vij, 40, as Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). In announcing her selection, Mayor Mamdani said, “This administration believes art is a public good, not a luxury … » Read

Dalia Stasevska is one of the busiest guest conductors in the world, moving with ease between opera houses and orchestra halls. The daughter of a Ukrainian father and a Finnish mother, she was born in Kyiv but grew up from age five in Finland and … » Read

Paavo Järvi, 62, is to succeed Edward Gardner as chief conductor & artistic advisor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra as of 2028-29. This puts him in place for orchestra’s centennial in 2032. Järvi, son of Neeme, brother of … » Read

As of Sept. 1, 2026, Danish opera creator Louise Beck will begin a four-year term as the new artistic director of the Copenhagen Opera Festival. Beck, who has been scenographer, director, and artistic director of OPE-N (formerly OperaNord) since … » Read

Howard Herring will close his quarter-of-a-century as president and CEO of the New World Symphony in June. His accomplishments at the helm of “America’s Orchestral Academy (NWS)” have been remarkable, not least for securing the … » Read

Lyric soprano Hannah De Priest has found her comfort zone. A rising star on the early music scene and a regular guest of the Cleveland-based baroque ensemble Les Délices, she impresses with sheer beauty of sound, plus a host of more subtle … » Read

The Cleveland Orchestra (TCO) has named five new players to its violin and viola sections. With these additions, Music Director Franz Welser-Möst, now in his 24 th year, will have appointed more than half of the orchestra. In May Elizabeth … » Read