Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša has been named the Czech Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor and Music Director.

He will begin his tenure in September 2028, and his initial contract will be for five years, with both parties seeing the appointment as the beginning of a long-term relationship and expecting that they will wish to continue the collaboration further into the future.

Hrůša will succeed the current Chief Conductor and Music Director, Semyon Bychkov, who announced last spring that he would step down after completing his tenth season with the orchestra. His artistic vision as Chief Conductor and Music Director will be supported by a generous gift from Renáta Kellnerová.

In a statement regarding his appointment, Hrůša said, “The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s foremost orchestras today. It combines a unique tradition with extraordinary potential for artistic growth. Our country’s leading orchestra not only sets the tone of musical life in the Czech Republic in a special way, but also performs with breathtaking success on the world’s most prestigious stages. I am overjoyed and deeply honoured that the Czech Philharmonic has chosen to align its path with mine from 2028.”

Hrůša currently serves as Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, and this season becomes Music Director of The Royal Opera at Covent Garden in London. He has previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

He has conducted such orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.

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