Conductor Stefan Blunier has been named the General Music Director of the Duisburg Philharmonic.

Blunier was chosen unanimously by the selection committee, and he will begin his tenure at the opening of the 2026-27 season.

He will, however, make several appearances with the orchestra in the 2025-26 season, including conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

In a statement, Nils Szczepanski, artistic director of the Duisburg Philharmonic said, “I am very pleased that we were able to fill this position, which is so important for Duisburg, so successfully and with such high caliber after a unanimous vote from the selection committee. Blunier was the candidate for all of us, we were in agreement in the selection committee – he has a wide repertoire, is artistically versatile, and has learned his craft from the ground up. He has followed a consistent path and understands the orchestra in its entirety – he possesses a unique quality that promises something special for the future of Duisburg and its Philharmonic.”

Blunier has previously served as General Music Director at the Staatstheater Darmstadt and was also General Music Director of the Beethovenstadt Bonn, a position which involved being Chief Conductor of the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and the Bonn Opera. He was also appointed Premier Chef Invité of the Orchestre National de Belgique in Brussels.