English Symphony Orchestra Names New Principal Artist

South African-born violinist Zoë Beyers has been the orchestra's concertmaster since 2017

Based in Worcester, England, the English Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is "thrilled to expand and extend our association with Zoë Beyers!"

Violinist Zoë Beyers has served as the orchestra's concertmaster since 2017, and now her role has been expanded to include artistic leadership. She will perform regularly with the orchestra as a soloist, and alongside the orchestra's associate conductor Michael Karcher-Young, she will also direct the ensemble.

Her first appearance in the role will be at the ESO's "Spring Song and Strings" concert on May 5, 2023. The program features the "Adagietto" from Mahler’s Symphony No.5, Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, and Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances.

Beyers is highly experienced in the concertmaster role: she is presently the leader of the BBC Philharmonic alongside Yuri Torchinsky, and as a freelancer, has led the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the Aurora Orchestra.

Beyers studied with Gabrielle Lester and Felix Andrievsky at the Royal College of Music, where she was an ABRSM international scholarship holder, Yehudi Menuhin Scholar, and the winner of the Tagore Gold Medal.