

Esa-Pekka Salonen studied at the Sibelius Academy and made his conducting début with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1979. From 1985-1995 he was Music Director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and also in 1985 took up the post of Principal Guest Conductor of The Philharmonia which he held until 1994. Salonen returned to The Philharmonia as the orchestra's chief conductor from 2008 to 2021. He was Director of the Helsinki Festival in 1995 and 1996. From 1992 to 2009, he was the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In December 2018, the San Francisco Symphony announced the appointment of Salonen as its next music director, effective in 2020.
Salonen is renowned for his interpretations of contemporary music. He is the recipient of many major awards including the Siena Prize by the Accademia Chigiana in 1993, the first conductor ever to receive the prize. In 1995 he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's 'Opera Award' and in 1997 received their 'Conductor Award'. In 1998 he was awarded the rank of Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Esa-Pekka Salonen is recognised as an accomplished composer. He studied with Niccolo Castiglioni and Franco Donatoni in Italy. Career highlights include a three-season appointment as composer-in-residence of the New York Philharmonic in 2015.
More information:
Official Website
Van Walsum Management