British conductor Henry Kennedy has been appointed Assistant Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO), one of Europe’s most prestigious youth orchestras. He will begin his tenure with the orchestra’s Summer Tour 2026, working alongside Philippe Jordan, who leads this year’s tour, while conducting GMJO concerts during the orchestra’s residency in Pordenone and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Kennedy succeeds Christian Blex, who served as Assistant Conductor after winning the 2025 Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award at the Salzburg Festival. The position has previously been held by conductors who went on to distinguished international careers, including Franz Welser-Möst, Manfred Honeck, Patrick Lange, David Afkham, and Lorenzo Viotti.
“I am delighted and deeply honoured to have been appointed Assistant Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, an orchestra whose artistic legacy is among the most distinguished in Europe,” Kennedy said. “I am very grateful for the trust placed in me, and I am greatly looking forward to working with its exceptional young musicians, the artistic team, and the distinguished conductors who shape the GMJO.”
He added that he was particularly looking forward to making his debut with the orchestra in Pordenone this August, where the programme will include premieres of works by Edward Elgar and Richard Wagner.
GMJO Artistic and Executive Director Alexander Meraviglia-Crivelli welcomed the appointment, saying: “It is wonderful to have Henry Kennedy as Assistant Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. I have been following his artistic path with great interest for several years, and I am convinced that the artistic collaboration with Henry Kennedy will be enriching and a pure joy for both partners.”
Founded in Vienna in 1986 by Claudio Abbado, the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading youth orchestras. Originally established to bring together young musicians from both sides of the Iron Curtain, it now auditions players from across Europe each year. Many of its alumni have gone on to hold principal positions in leading international orchestras, while the ensemble has worked with conductors including Pierre Boulez, Mariss Jansons, Bernard Haitink and Franz Welser-Möst.
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