Queensland Symphony Orchestra Names New Chief Conductor

Having previously served as principal cellist of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Clerici transitioned to conducting in 2021. He will succeed Johannes Fritzsch at the  Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO).

Clerici had already led the QSO in four major concerts in 2021, including the Season Closing Gala. His inaugural performances as Chief Conductor Designate will be QSO's Maestro Series in June 2022 featuring Mahler’s 1st Symphony and soloist Daniel Müller-Schott performing Elgar’s cello concerto, before returning in July for the Fantasy and Folklore program.

“Maestro Umberto Clerici will become Chief Conductor in 2023, bringing a deep and rich understanding of music as both a musician and a conductor to the QSO podium,” said QSO Acting Chair Rod Pilbeam.“As one of Queensland’s largest performing arts organisations, QSO demands an inclusive and visionary musical leader. We could not be more thrilled with this appointment, especially given Maestro Clerici has already led the Orchestra to standing ovations in the Concert Hall and has an intimate understanding of our commitment to share the power of music across all corners of the state.”

“I’m not just honoured to share the QSO Chief Conductor’s title with great musicians but I’m also grateful to them for helping create, in the past 75 years, the QSO of today," commented Clerici. “My path to the podium came after 20 years as a cellist, both as soloist and orchestral, which means that I have shared the stage with a wide variety of conductors for many years, and in many parts of the world. This creates not only a different perspective on what the role of the conductor is for the musicians, but have also given me the opportunity to explore repertoire from inside the orchestra.

With his newfound role, Clerici will now join the ranks of past conductors of the QSO over the last three-quarters of a century including John Farnsworth Hall, Rudolf Pekarek, Stanford Robinson, Ezra Rachlin, Patrick Thomas, Vanco Cavdarski, Werner Andreas Albert, Muhai Tang, Michael Christie, and Alondra de la Parra.

From now till the end of the 2022 season, Fritzsch will still continue as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the QSO, and will take on Principal Guest Conductor responsibilities in 2023, and resume the position of Conductor Laureate in 2024.