After months of speculation it's been announced that Ms. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla will succeed Andris Nelsons as music director of the world-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In effect for a three-year period starting September 2016, the 29-year-old conductor continues the CBSO's pursuit in finding new and aspiring talent.
The decision comes after a committee of Birmingham Symphony musicians and board members unanimously decided that Ms. Mirga was right for the job. Mr. Nelsons, who stepped down in 2015, was the company's head for seven years prior.
Chief executive to the orchestra Stephen Maddock said:
"There was an instant chemistry between Mirga and our musicians, and the excitement in Symphony Hall at her concerts both on stage and in the audience was palpable ... Mirga is thrilling audiences wherever she goes: we can't wait to start making music with her."
Ms. Gražinytė-Tyla was born in Vilnius, Lithuania and is the daughter of a choir conductor. Her career took when she was discovered in 2009 at the German Conducting Forum.
Gražinytė-Tyla is currently engaged with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as its assistant conductor to Gustavo Dudamel. In 2012-13 she was honored as a Dudamel Fellow and in July will become the company's associate conductor. Also on her resume, she currently holds to title of music director of the Slazburg Landestheater where she won the Salzburg festival young conductors award in 2012.
For a young conductor who already has an impressive career under her belt, this next appointment should only add to her status as one of the world's leading young music directors. At a mere 29 years old, Ms. Mirga is sure to astound audiences in her new chair and should elevate her career tenfold.
But if you need proof of her capabilities, preview the Lithuanian conductor below.
