Belfast's Ulster Orchestra Names New Leader

Former Associate Leader Ioana Petcu-Colan will step into the role

Northern Ireland's Ulster Orchestra has recently announced a restructuring of its front desk. Following the resignation of its Leader Tamás Kocsis, who has been concertmaster of the orchestra since 2010, the ensemble will instead opt for two equal Leader chairs.

Ioana Petcu-Colan, who was previously the orchestra's Associate Leader, has been appointed to the first of the two positions. Originally from Romania, Petcu-Colan studied in France, the UK, and Ireland.

She has made a number of solo appearances with the orchestra, including performances of Mozart's Violin Concerto no. 4, the Mendelssohn Double Concerto (with pianist Michael McHale), and live on BBC Radio 3 in the UK premiere of Sullen Earth by Ian Wilson.

Petcu-Colan has a particular focus on contemporary music, and highlights include working intensively with Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks prior to performing their work, duetting with Philip Glass in concert, and a performance broadcast on BBC3 of Luigi Nono’s La Lontananza Nostalgica Utopica Futura, a 45-minute work for solo violin and tape.

Petcu-Colan frequently appears at chamber music festivals in Ireland and abroad, including in Cheltenham, Ryedale, Bergen, Heidelberger Frühling, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Clandeboye, and Sligo New Music Festival.

The Ulster Orchestra say they will appoint a second Leader in due course.