The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has announced that Kwamé Ryan will be the new Music Director.

Ryan will be the 12th Music Director starting during the 2024-25 season and ushering in a new era for the Orchestra’s 93rd season.

In a statement, the Music Designate said, “On my very first visit to Charlotte, I felt instantly connected with the dynamic energy of the city and then profoundly inspired by the wonderful musicians of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra … I very much look forward to discovering how this exciting new partnership can enrich the orchestra’s legacy and the cultural fabric of Charlotte.”

Born in Canada and raised on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Ryan studied Musicology at Cambridge University and trained in conducting under the guidance of renowned composer/conductor Peter Eötvös. He has worked in the United States, UK, and Germany. In the fall of 2023, Ryan conducted the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s “Intelligence” at Houston Grand Opera, and in 2024, he is set to make his debut with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and the New York Philharmonic.