San Francisco Symphony Adds to Conducting Roster

The orchestra has announced four new conducting staff ahead of their 2021–22 season

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) welcomes Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser as their Resident Conductor of Engagement and Education. 

For the first season of his three-year appointment, Bartholomew-Poyser will conduct the SFS in a variety of concerts, including Music for Families, Adventures in Music, and Concerts for Kids, as well as working with the Symphony’s Education department in developing a new educational video project.

Bartholomew-Poyser served as Assistant Conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Over six seasons, he has had a partnership with the SFS, recently acting as the cover conductor with the Washington National Opera in 2020.

Joining him on the roster are Kyle Dickson, Molly Turner, and Ross Jamie Collins as Salonen Fellows in Colburn School Conservatory of Music’s Negaunee Conducting Program.

Selected by Esa-Pekka Salonen to join the conducting staff of the SFS, the Salonen Fellows will serve as assistant conductors to Salonen for each of his programs with the SFS during the 2021–22 season. 

Working regularly with youth ensembles, Dickson has given masterclasses and webinars for arts programs including the Chicago Youth Symphony Ensembles and Ravinia’s El Sistema program. Next season, he will serve as Assistant Conductor at the Spoleto Festival, USA.

Turner was recently featured conducting the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Lab Orchestra, and Rice Campanile Orchestra. She was also selected as one of six participants for the Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors. 

In 2019, Collins made his debuts with the South Denmark Philharmonic and the Kirkkonummi Chamber Orchestra. As Salonen’s student, he has assisted him at NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Houston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and SFS.

“I am thrilled to be appointed,” said Bartholomew-Poyser in the press release. “My past years of engagement with the San Francisco Symphony are filled with memories of terrific music making and fantastic, challenging programs.

“Together, we've created unforgettable musical experiences for our Bay Area audience and this appointment demonstrates our commitment to creating more,” he continues. “I am very much looking forward to being back in the Bay Area, making music, making memories.”

For more about SFS’s 2021-22 season, click here.