Waterloo Chamber Players Appoints New Principal Conductor

The Canadian conductor William Rowson will assume the role as of this April

Canada’s Waterloo Chamber Players has welcomed William “Bill” Rowson as its new Principal Conductor. Rowson will perform his first concert in the role on April 27, 2025, at the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. 

Currently, Rowson is also the Artistic and Executive Director of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra.  

From 2016 to 2018, he served as the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, where he became Associate Conductor in 2019. 

His recent guest conducting highlights include the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Guelph Symphony Orchestra, London Classical Soloists, Regina Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony, among others. 

As a composer, his original works and orchestral arrangements have been performed by orchestras and ensembles throughout Canada, the US, and Europe, and have been broadcast in over 20 countries. 

Additionally, he has produced and written several symphonic educational programs, and worked at the Glenn Gould Professional School, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada. Rowson is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the University of Toronto. 

“It's a great honor to have been chosen to lead [this] orchestra into its next chapter,” Rowson said. “I really look forward to making music with our musicians not just in the coming weeks but in future seasons as we work to further our orchestra's mission to offer our public elevated concert experiences and to reach music lovers not only in our community but beyond.”

“Our orchestra is buzzing with excitement about our news!” the ensemble posted on Instagram. “We welcome William Rowson as the new conductor of the Waterloo Chamber Players. Bill is a tremendously skilled conductor and he brings such a positive energy to our group. We can’t wait to experience this new chapter and hope you’ll all come along with us on our musical journey together!”