Nicolò Foron wins Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition
Florence Lockheart
Friday, March 24, 2023
As part of his prize the Italian-German conductor will take up the role of assistant conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra
Following a final round held last night (23 March), conductor Nicolò Foron has been announced as the winner of the 17th Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition. The Italian-German conductor will receive Foron a £15,000 cash prize as well as the role of assistant conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).
Competition founder Donatella Flick announced the winner along competition jury chair and LSO principal second violin David Alberman and HRH the Duke of Kent. The announcement followed three days of intense competition at LSO St Luke’s, London, during which finalists conducted the LSO in pieces by composers including Shostakovich, Sally Beamish, Wagner, Grieg and Berlioz.
Alberman said: ‘We have witnessed some tremendous music-making this week with 20 exceptional conductors from all over Europe inspiring us to feel that the future of music is in great hands… However in the end the jury came to the clear decision that of all the competitors, it was Nicolò’s outstanding combination of charisma, energy, technique and musicianship which demonstrated the greatest potential for an exciting future career.’
The judging panel also included composer Sally Beamish; English National Opera music director Martyn Brabbins; Royal Academy of Music head of conducting Sian Edwards, LSO principal oboe Juliana Koch and Royal Opera House music director Sir Antonio Pappano. The LSO players also had a collective vote as part of the judging panel.
As part of his prize Foron will take up the role of assistant conductor with the LSO for up to one year. During this time, he will have the opportunity to accompany the orchestra on tour, work on concerts with the LSO’s principal and guest conductors and take part in the LSO’s education and outreach programme. If the opportunity arises, Foron may also conduct the LSO in concert.
Founded in 1990 by philanthropist Donatella Flick to support young conductors at the start of their careers, the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition is open to conductors aged 30 and under. Flick and her team work in partnership with the LSO to present the Competition every two years. Of the 80 conductors who applied this year, the competition welcomed a shortlist of 20 to London to compete in its live final.
Nicolò Foron said: ‘Thank you so much to the jury, to Donatalla Flick and to the magnificent players of the London Symphony Orchestra. It has been such a great week. I’m ecstatic.’
