The Sapporo Symphony in Japan has announced a new Chief Conductor.

In an official press release, the company said, “that due to the completion of the tenure of Mo. Matthias Bamert, Chief Conductor of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, as of March 2024, we will invite the following conductors.”

As a result, the company named Elias Grandy as Chief conductor starting April 2025, while Tatsuya Shimono will serve as Principal Guest Conductor from April 2024. Meanwhile, Tadaaki Otaka will serve as Honorary Music Director, Junichi Hirokami will be the Friendship Conductor and Kentaro Kawase will be the Resident Conductor.

Grandy has conducted around teh world in Europe, America, and Asia. He has worked with such orchestras and companies as Vienna Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Aalto-Theatre Essen, and Portland Opera. He recently ended his contract as Music Director of the Heidelberg Opera and Philharmonic.