Daniel Harding succeeds Yo-Yo Ma as music director of China’s YMCG
Florence Lockheart
Thursday, February 23, 2023
The British conductor, who now holds the role of music director designate, will take over as leader of the organisation next year
Symphonic learning and experience programme Youth Music Culture the Greater Bay Area (YMCG) has announced the appointment of Daniel Harding to the role of music director. The British conductor will assume the role of music director designate from this month before joining the organisation in 2024 for a four-year tenure.
The YMCG organizing committee, led by conductor Long Yu, revealed the appointment in a statement released on Sunday (19 February) which confirmed that Harding will succeed American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who was YMCG’s inaugural music director, holding the role from 2017 to 2022. Harding will work alongside Long Yu, who spearheaded the founding of the programme in 2017.
In its statement, the artistic committee said: ‘We look forward to joining hands with Maestro Daniel Harding in continuing to extend YMCG’s influence from the Greater Bay Area to the Asian region as it builds its reputation as the premier international musical event focusing on young musicians.’
The YMCG programme takes place annually in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, where musicians from Shanghai Quartet, and from professional ensembles and orchestras across China rehearse and perform alongside young talent. Attendees drawn from the Central, Shanghai, Xinghai, Wuhan and Sichuan conservatories of music as well as members of the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra and Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra also attend chamber concerts, masterclasses and outreach events.
Alongside his parallel career as an airline pilot, Daniel Harding CBE has been music and artistic director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra for over 15 years. He has also worked with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra for over 20 years where he currently holds the role of conductor laureate. His experience also includes leadership roles with the Orchestre de Paris, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Anima Mundi Festival.
Harding made his first appearance as music director designate in an online event hosted yesterday by YMCG 2023 which can be viewed on the organisation’s Facebook page.