Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Establishes New Associate Conductor Position

German conductor Aurel Dawidiuk has been appointed to the first Bernard Haitink Associate Conductorship, and will work with the RCO for two seasons

Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) has established a new Associate Conductor position, following a generous donation from the family of its former Chief Conductor Bernard Haitink (1929-2021). The position bears Haitink's name.

The young German conductor Aurel Dawidiuk will be the orchestra's first Associate Conductor and will hold the position for a two-year term, concluding at the end of the 2025/26 season. Dawidiuk was selected following an international search, which culminated in four finalists being invited to audition live with the orchestra under the watchful eye of its Artistic Partner, Klaus Mäkelä.

During his time in the position, Dawidiuk will be involved in approximately half of the orchestra's concerts. As well as assisting the main conductor, he will also work with the orchestra's players in smaller ensembles and will play a role in the RCO's talent development program.

Towards the end of his tenure, he will get the opportunity to conduct several subscription concerts, having prepared the orchestra during the week prior.

Originally from Hanover, Aurel Dawidiuk is a conductor, pianist, and organist. His conducting studies were undertaken at the Zurich University of the Arts, where he began with Johannes Schlaefli and is presently studying with Christoph-Mathias Mueller.

He has participated in masterclasses with Paavo Järvi, Jaap van Zweden, Joana Mallwitz, and Pierre-André Valade, and has conducted ensembles including the Bern Symphony Orchestra, the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2023, Dawidiuk won the Neeme Järvi Prize at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, as well as a total of four prizes at the International Hans von Bülow Competition in Meiningen.

"Bernard felt that he'd had tremendous luck in his own career as a young conductor, and wanted to create opportunities for his younger colleagues," said Patricia Haitink, the widow of Bernard Haitink.

"This scheme enables a young conductor to have real, active engagement with a great orchestra, and with some of the very best conductors and soloists. It opens the possibility for a talented young artist to move to the next stage of their career."