Kansas City Symphony Appoints New Music Director

Conductor Matthias Pintscher will step into the role at the opening of the 2024/25 season

The German-born conductor Matthias Pintscher will be the fifth Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony (KCS) — starting in the 2024/25 season for an initial term of five years.

Pintscher comes to the role from a ten-year stint as Music Director of Ensemble Intercontemporain, one of the world's leading contemporary-music groups. He succeeds outgoing Music Director Michael Stern, who has led the KCS since 2005.

Despite a large number of guest conductors being considered for the post across a two-year period, the orchestra committee's decision was almost instantaneous once they had seen Pintscher work with the ensemble — and he was offered the post mere days after his first appearance with the orchestra.

The winner of the 2022 Polar Music Prize, Matthias Pintscher has held positions with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Ojai Music Festival, and the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, as well as Ensemble Intercontemporain.

Pintscher is also a respected composer, and his works have been premiered by some of the world's best orchestras. He has been on the composition faculty at The Juilliard School since 2014.

"Many friends told me beforehand how much I would enjoy meeting and working with the Kansas City Symphony," Pintscher said. "But in March, when I first met the orchestra, we had much more than just a good time! There was an immediate connection between us. I felt a sense of homecoming when I recognized some of the musicians as alums of the New World Symphony, which I regularly conduct."

"I am excited about embarking on this journey of adventures with the Kansas City Symphony, and can’t wait to start exploring different repertoires together and working to create a compelling story and vision for our vibrant community," he added.

"The musicians of the Kansas City Symphony warmly welcome Matthias Pintscher as our new Music Director," said Kristin Velicer, the Chair of the KCS Musicians' Committee. "The instant chemistry and respect between Maestro Pintscher and the musicians were palpable from the first rehearsal."

"Additionally, the personal connections he made with us both on and off stage were inspiring and genuine," she continued. "When the audience applause died down after our last concert together, we all began to stomp our feet to insist that he return to the stage, so we could applaud him ourselves and thank him for a truly spectacular week. We all came away knowing that he was the one."