Introducing our 2018/19 Masterworks Series guest conductors!

We are thrilled to announce the nine guest conductors for our 2018/19 Masterworks Series! These talented women and men come to us from all around the world, including right here in Canada, and are sure to delight all season!

Holly Mathieson
BRAVURA PIANO AND DVOŘÁK’S SEVENTH
October 11, 2018
This New Zealand-born conductor currently serves as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She was named one of New Zealand’s Top 50 Women of Achievement in 2016.

Mei-Ann Chen
HEAVENLY HARP AND MENDELSSOHN’S “ITALIAN”
October 25, 2018
This Taiwanese-American is acclaimed for infusing orchestras with energy, enthusiasm, and high-level music-making, and is Conductor Laureate of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Bernhard Gueller
BERNHARD AND BEETHOVEN
November 8, 2018 – ALMOST SOLD OUT!
Following his 16-year tenure as Music Director, Symphony Nova Scotia’s Music Director Laureate returns to Halifax for a powerful, masterful performance of some of his favourite symphonic music.

Simon Rivard
SUPERB SIBELIUS AND GREAT SCHUBERT
January 24, 2019
Named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30” in 2017, Simon is currently the Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Jean-Michel Malouf
FRENCH MASTERPIECES BY FAURÉ AND RAVEL
February 7, 2019
This Québec native is a trombonist and conductor, and currently serves as Artistic and Musical Director of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean in Québec.

Nadège Foofat
CELLO FIREWORKS AND APPALACHIAN SPRING
February 28, 2019 – ALMOST SOLD OUT!
Born in Calgary, Nadège is also a U.K. and U.S. citizen. In April 2018, she was one of six conductors chosen from nearly 150 applicants for the 2018 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.

Jean-Claude Picard
BEETHOVEN’S SEVENTH AND DINUK’S CLARINET
March 21, 2019
Jean-Claude returns to Halifax following a successful debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in March 2018. He was the co-winner of the prestigious Mendelssohn Scholarship in 2013.

Adam Johnson
TCHAIKOVSKY AND STAR PIANIST SARA DAVIS BUECHNER
April 4, 2019
This Canadian was named Resident Conductor of the Montréal Symphony Orchestra in June 2018, and has been praised for his “charismatic, commanding presence”.

Ivars Taurins
MAGNIFICENT MOZART FESTIVAL
May 1 & May 4-5 – ALMOST SOLD OUT!
A founding member of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, this Toronto native has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras across Canada, including Symphony Nova Scotia in 2006 and 2012.

For more information about each conductor, please visit the concert pages.