Vancouver Symphony Orchestra music director Otto Tausk extends contract into 2029-30 season

The maestro is also artistic advisor of the VSO School of Music

THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY Orchestra (VSO) and VSO School of Music have just announced that maestro Otto Tausk has extended his contract as music director of the VSO and artistic advisor of the VSO School of Music into the 2029-30 season.

Tausk has held his local positions since 2018. The podium of the VSO music director is endowed through the support of Alan and Gwendoline Pyatt.

During the 2023-24 season, Tausk invited some of the world’s most celebrated guest soloists to perform with the VSO including Yo-Yo Ma, Augustin Hadelich, Sarah Chang, Steven Isserlis, and Vadim Gluzman. On the roster for next season are concerts with Lang Lang, Tan Dun, Leila Josefowicz, Bruce Liu, Francesca Dego, Rihab Chaieb, and Angela Hewitt.

Born in Utrecht in the Netherlands, Tausk studied violin before turning his attention to conducting. He has appeared as a guest with such orchestras as Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Philharmonie Südwestfalen, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the orchestras of Perth, Tasmania, and Auckland, among others.

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Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is cofounder and associate editor of Stir. The Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.

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