Grand Teton Music Festival Renews Sir Donald Runnicles' Contract until 2029

The contract extension will see Runnicles give a total of 23 years' service to the festival

Wyoming's Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF) recently announced a contract extension for its Music Director, Sir Donald Runnicles. The contract, which was previously due to expire in 2026, will now run through the end of 2029 — by which time Runnicles will have served the festival for 23 years.

A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Sir Donald Runnicles is presently General Music Director of Deutsche Oper Berlin and is in his final season as Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony. He is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Grand Teton Music Festival takes place over an eight-week period every summer, during which time 220 orchestral musicians from 75 orchestras and nearly 55 universities and conservatories come to Jackson Hole to present concerts of orchestral and chamber music.

In 2023, GTMF's guest artists include James Ehnes, Alisa Weilerstein, and Marc-André Hamelin.

"Since 2005, this remarkable orchestra and unique Festival have informed, enriched, and changed my life," Runnicles said. "The privilege and responsibility to be at the artistic helm for a further six years fills me with pride and humility."

"My thanks to the Board for this enormous vote of confidence. My thanks to the musicians of this great orchestra for their limitless trust and their permission to take our music making to new heights. My thanks, too, to our extraordinary audience and Jackson Hole community. May the auspicious beginning to this, our 62nd season, be a further reminder of how supreme the music making is and what there is still to achieve."

"I speak on behalf of the entire Board when I share our gratitude and admiration for the leadership of Sir Donald Runnicles," said David Donovan, the co-chair of GTMF's board. "We are delighted that with his guidance, GTMF will continue to bring world-class music experiences to the Jackson Hole community."

"Our Board recently completed an extensive strategic vision project, and time and time again, the community of musicians, staff, and audience members expressed gratitude for Donald’s stewardship."