Kristiina Poska has been named Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes.

President Dominique Dujols, the Board of Directors and the Orchestre Français des Jeunes team led by Charlotte Ginot-Slacik announced the news.

The Estonian conductor will begin her tenure in the summer of 2025 and will succeed Danish conductor Michael Schønwandt.

In a statement regarding her new position, Poska said, “I am extremely proud and honored to become the new Music Director of the French Youth Orchestra, and to follow into the footsteps of such magnificent predecessors. In recent years, I have been fortunate to work with young musicians and conductors on a regular basis. I find it very inspiring and rewarding, as one can focus fully to the music and work, shape and explore together in depth. I am looking forward to passing on some of my experience and knowledge to the future generation of French musicians, to enjoy the inspiring setting of the orchestra’s home base – Saline royale d’Arc-et-Senans and to perform together in some of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls.”

Poska is currently the Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique des Flandres and the Principal Guest Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. She has also been Music Director of the Basel Theater and Kapellmeister at Komische Oper Berlin.

Over the years she has worked with the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouworkest, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre National de France, among others.