Los Angeles Philharmonic announces Daniel Harding as next music director

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced that Daniel Harding is to be its next music director. The UK-born Harding, 50, will begin his tenure in the 2027/28 season, with an initial contract for six years. Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra’s music director since 2009, leaves the role in August 2026 – the Venezuelan conductor is heading east to become music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic , but he will retain close connections with the Los Angeles orchestra as its artistic and cultural laureate. In his new role, Harding will oversee the programming across the organisation, including its presentations at Walt Disney concert hall, the Hollywood Bowl and the Ford, along with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (Yola). He will conduct eight weeks of programming in his first season, increasing to 12 weeks in subsequent years. The orchestra was founded in 1919 and has commissioned and premiered works by composers ranging from Stravinsky and Schoenberg to Lutosławski and John Adams. Over the past 14 years it has won 11 Grammy awards for recordings made with Dudamel. President and chief executive Kim Noltemy said: “We are immensely proud to welcome Daniel Harding as the LA Phil’s next music director, following an extensive search led by a committee of our musicians, board and staff. He is greatly admired by the orchestra and was the overwhelming choice based on their feedback. …