Britain’s BBC Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Joshua Weilerstein as its next chief conductor, with an initial five-year term starting in September 2028. He succeeds John Storgårds, who becomes conductor laureate. Weilerstein’s existing roles include leading the Orchestre National de Lille and Aalborg Symphony Orchestra; his Aalborg tenure ends with the season before the new appointment begins.
Britain’s BBC Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Joshua Weilerstein as its next chief conductor. His first contract runs for five years, starting in September 2028. He succeeds John Storgårds, who is to become conductor laureate when his tenure ends. The appointment sets out a future change in leadership, with Weilerstein continuing his existing orchestral work ahead of the move.[1], [2]
Weilerstein is music director of the Orchestre National de Lille, the French orchestra, and chief conductor of Denmark’s Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. His Aalborg tenure ends after the 2027–28 season. His regular engagements also include the Chicago Symphony and New York Philharmonic in the United States, Germany’s Bavarian Radio Symphony and Dresden Staatskapelle. Later this month, he is scheduled to conduct soprano Regula Mühlemann and Dresden Staatskapelle in AdventKonzert.[1]
Orchestra director Adam Szabo described Weilerstein as a champion of works overlooked by music history. In the appointment announcement, he also praised the conductor’s approach to established orchestral repertoire. Szabo highlighted communication and empathy in his musical leadership and said he was popular with the orchestra’s musicians. The director linked those qualities with the performances Weilerstein inspires and welcomed the prospect of working together from 2028.[1]
