Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamada has been appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO). He will officially take up the role at the start of the 2026/27 season, succeeding Robin Ticciati.
Founded in 1946 as the RIAS Symphony Orchestra, the DSO is one of the leading ensembles within the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre Berlin (ROC) group. Its former chief conductors include distinguished names such as Ferenc Fricsay, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Kent Nagano.
Yamada currently serves as Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). He recently extended his contract there through the end of the 2028/29 season. During his time in Birmingham, he has led numerous performances, conducting 20 concerts this season alone. He has also been active in community outreach projects, including the CBSO in the City series, which brings performances to unconventional spaces like city trams.
Born in Japan, Yamada studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts. In 2009, he won first prize at the 51st International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors. He was mentored by Seiji Ozawa and regularly appears with major Japanese orchestras, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to his position in Birmingham, Yamada is also the Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. He has connected the two orchestras through joint projects, conducting the CBSO Chorus in performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah in 2019 and Orff’s Carmina Burana in 2023.
“I am filled with great joy and deep gratitude to be appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin,” Yamada said. “For a Japanese conductor to take on such a role in Berlin is still rare and very meaningful for me.”
Reflecting on his previous collaborations with the DSO, Yamada added, “When I worked with the orchestra in April and September last year, I felt a special chemistry. I look forward to our shared journey and believe we will create something remarkable together.”
Anselm Rose, Managing Director of ROC, welcomed the appointment, saying, “With Kazuki Yamada, we are gaining one of the most sought-after conductors internationally. His artistic vision and ability make him an ideal match for the DSO and for Berlin.”
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