Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra announces new Music Director

Conductor Tarmo Peltokoski will take on this role from the 2026/27 concert season.

As announced by the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), the 24-year-old Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski will serve as Music Director for a four-year term, having previously served as Music Director Designate during the 2025/26 season.

He will succeed Jaap van Zweden in this role, becoming the ninth Music Director of the HK Phil. Peltokoski made his HK Phil debut at the 2022/23 Season-Ending Concert in June 2023 and is now set to conduct the HK Phil’s sold-out 2023/24 Season-Ending Concerts, as well as the 2024/25 Season-Opening Concert.

The recent contract signing ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall was attended by the HK Phil board of directors, orchestra musicians and James TongDirector, Group Public Affairs John Swire & Sons (HK) Limitedwhich represents the main patron of the HK Phil.

Currently, Peltokoski is the designated music director of the National Orchestra of the Capitol of Toulouse during the 2024/25 season and will begin his official role from the 2025/26 season.

In 2022, he is the first conductor to be appointed principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen over its 42-year history.

He also started as musical and artistic director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra In the 2022/23 season he was also appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

In spring 2025, he will tour Germany with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and make his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bavarian State Orchestraand Japan NHK Symphony Orchestra.

Graduated from the Sibelius AcademyPeltokoski studied with Jorma Panula and Sakari Oramo, Hannu Lintu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

“I am delighted to welcome Maestro Peltokoski as the next Music Director of the HK Phil,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors and the HK Phil Music Director Search Committee David Cogman in the press release“He is a remarkable and visionary musician, and we are very pleased that he will write the next chapter in our orchestra’s history. The Board of Directors is extremely excited about the future of the orchestra under the leadership of such an exceptional conductor.”

“I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra,” said Peltokoski. “Having been so impressed with the orchestra last year, I knew this relationship would last. The HK Phil is undoubtedly one of the finest orchestras in Asia. I look forward to playing music with the brilliant musicians of the HK Phil in the years to come.”

“The appointment of Tarmo Peltokoski as the new music director of our orchestra marks an important milestone,” added HK Phil CEO Benedikt Fohr“He is a very talented musician from the younger generation. Under his leadership, we hope to inspire a new generation of music lovers and continue to enhance our artistic excellence and elevate our reputation in Hong Kong and beyond. The HK Phil is excited about the creative journey that lies ahead.”

“I would like to extend a warm welcome to Tarmo,” commented the HK Phil’s first violinist. Jing Wang“His first concerts with the HK Phil last year were truly inspiring and his talent was immediately apparent. He is a highly energetic conductor with a passion for music. The orchestra and I look forward to many years of playing music together in the coming seasons.”