Dresden Philharmonic appoints inaugural Runnicles Fellow

The Dresden Philharmonic has announced the appointment of Miguel Sepúlveda as its first ever Runnicles fellow. The Portuguese conductor was among five conductors nominated by their agencies to audition for the role last month.

The fellowship was launched this summer as an initiative to support the next generation of leading conductors and will continue with auditions every season. Across his two-year tenure, Sepúlveda will assist Sir Donald Runnicles who joins the Dresden Philharmonic as chief conductor from the 2025-26 season. As well as supporting Sir Donald’s projects in December 2024 and February 2025, Sepúlveda will also lead a project of this own in the 2025-26 season.

In his current role as chief conductor designate, Runnicles said: ‘It is important to the orchestra and me to promote outstanding young colleagues, and to pave the way for the next generation of conductors by allowing them to gain experience and by giving them space to grow in this very complex role. All the more I am excited to have discovered Miguel Sepúlveda, who really impressed the orchestra and me in the auditions. I am very much looking forward to accompanying him on his artistic journey.’

Born in Lisbon in 1998, Sepúlveda is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music. In the coming months he will make his debuts with Deutsche Philharmonie Merck and Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, as well as returns to Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música and Orquestra Metropolitana. He will also compete in the final of the Rotterdam International Conducting Competition in June 2025.

Sepúlveda said: ‘Conducting the Dresdner Philharmonie during the auditions was an incredible experience. Having immediately felt such a high level of musicianship and support from the orchestra, I start the Runnicles Fellowship with immense gratitude and also excitement!’