London Philharmonic Orchestra appoints new artistic director

Florence Lockheart
Monday, March 31, 2025

Jesús Herrera will join the orchestra from June from Intermusica, succeeding Elena Dubinets

Jesús Herrera: ‘I hugely admire the LPO’s artistry and vision, and I truly believe it stands as a model for the 21st-century orchestra' ©Liz Isles
Jesús Herrera: ‘I hugely admire the LPO’s artistry and vision, and I truly believe it stands as a model for the 21st-century orchestra' ©Liz Isles

The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has today announced the appointment of Jesús Herrera to the role of artistic director. The Spanish-born former artist manager joins the orchestra from June 2025 from Intermusica, succeeding outgoing artistic director Elena Dubinets who announced her departure in November to head up Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Herrera brings to his new role experience gained as Intermusica’s director of creative partnerships and projects since April 2024, as an artist manager between 2018–20, and as general manager and artistic director of Spain’s Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León (OSCyL) and Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes.

Herrera said: ‘I hugely admire the LPO’s artistry and vision, and I truly believe it stands as a model for the 21st-century orchestra – championing an enormous range of repertoire, fostering innovation, and building meaningful community ties. I am tremendously grateful to Intermusica for its support and the many projects we have developed, but I am now incredibly excited to join the LPO’s phenomenal group of first-class musicians and staff, and it will be an honour to contribute to the Orchestra’s extraordinary legacy.’

Having studied in Paris and Salzburg, Herrera graduated in piano performance, music and musicology, and music administration and management and undertook a performance career for several years before transitioning to music management. I this new role he will work alongside the LPO CEO David Burke, principal guest conductor Karina Canellakis and conductor emeritus Vladimir Jurowski as well as with principal conductor Edward Gardner.

Gardner said: ‘It was clear talking to Jesús during the interview process that he is an intrepid, unique thinker and a wonderful fit for the future of the LPO. I’m hugely looking forward to having him as a colleague, and to collaborate in further strengthening the Orchestra’s reputation as a world-class ensemble, and enriching the experiences we provide for our audiences.’