(Credit: Ben VanHouten)

The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that Elena Dubinets has been appointed to the role of Artistic Director, effective September 2021.

The Russian-born administrator has spent the last 15 years with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra as Vice President of Artistic Planning and Creative Projects. In this role she led classical music programming, incorporated a wide repertoire and new commissions into their subscription series season, and arranged collaborations in cross-arts partnerships with organizations such as National Nordic Museum and Mark Morris Dance Group, among others.

As co-founder and executive producer of the Seattle Symphony Media in-house label, Dubinets played an instrumental role as the company won five Grammy awards in five years, as well as the 2018 Gramophone Magazine Orchestra of the Year Award.

In her new position, Dubinets will work closely with LPO’s CEO David Burke, as well as incoming Principal Conductor Edward Gardner, Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis, and Vladimir Jurowski, who will become Conductor Emeritus at the end of the 20-21 season.

“I am honored and excited to become part of the incredible London Philharmonic Orchestra as it enters a new era,” says Dubinets. “With Edward Gardner as its new Principal Conductor, Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis, and Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski, the LPO has assembled a true ‘dream team’ of phenomenal musical breadth and depth, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to join its creative team.

“The simultaneous eruption of the pandemic landscape and social justice movements last year have led to considerable changes in our art form and made the musical world even more relevant and interconnected. I see my role as helping the LPO nurture both its local supporters and its global audiences through curating transformational music experiences filled with insight and wonder that will make the LPO a destination for artistically vibrant and socially impactful discoveries.”