Tabita Berglund has been appointed Chief Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, beginning in August 2027 for an initial four-year term. She will take on the role of Chief Conductor Designate in the 2026–27 season, succeeding Edward Gardner.
With this appointment, Berglund becomes the first Norwegian conductor to lead the orchestra since 1985, and the first Norwegian woman to hold a chief conductor position at a major symphony orchestra in Norway.
Her engagement will include a minimum of ten weeks per season, encompassing subscription concerts, international tours, and recording projects. Her tenure is currently set to run until July 2031.
Berglund’s relationship with the Bergen Philharmonic dates back to 2015, when she performed as a deputy cellist with the orchestra. After turning to conducting in 2017, she made her debut on the podium with the ensemble in 2020. Her appointment follows a series of collaborations, including a main-series debut in 2025 that received strong support from the orchestra’s musicians.
“I am happy, proud and humble to become the new Chief Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra,” Berglund said in a statement. “It is a great honour, and the fact I have been personally chosen by the orchestra’s musicians makes me even happier. Having widely conducted abroad, this appointment feels like coming home.”
She also highlighted her interest in expanding the presence of Nordic repertoire in the orchestra’s programming, alongside core symphonic works, noting the “treasure trove” of lesser-known music from the region.
The orchestra’s Chief Executive, Sigurd Sverdrup Sandmo, described the appointment as the beginning of “a new and important chapter” for the ensemble, pointing to Berglund’s growing international career and her artistic connection with the orchestra as key factors in the decision. An advisory vote among the musicians played a decisive role in confirming her appointment.
Berglund will open the Bergen Philharmonic’s 2026–27 season on 27 and 28 August 2026 as Chief Conductor Designate. The programme includes Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, the world premiere of a new percussion concerto by Ørjan Matre, and Arvo Pärt’s Fratres for celli, in which Berglund will join the orchestra’s cello section.
Further appearances during the season include additional subscription weeks and a tour of Germany and Belgium in early 2027. The season will also feature repertoire by composers including Brahms, Bartók, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Pärt, as well as the Nordic premiere of Ondřej Adámek’s Thin Ice.
Alongside her commitments in Bergen, Berglund continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Dresdner Philharmonie, while maintaining an active international guest conducting schedule.
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1765, is one of the oldest orchestras in the world.
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