Kazuki Yamada Appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

Kazuki Yamada has been named the next Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO), beginning with the 2026/2027 season. He will succeed Robin Ticciati, who led the orchestra from 2017 to 2024.

Kazuki Yamada shared:
“I am filled with great joy and deep gratitude to be appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. For a Japanese conductor to take on a leading musical role in Berlin is still a rarity – and personally very meaningful to me.
I had the pleasure of working with the orchestra in April and September of last year and felt a truly special chemistry. I now look forward to our shared journey with great anticipation. I am confident that we will create something truly remarkable.”

Anselm Rose, Managing Director of ROC, said:
“With Kazuki Yamada, we are welcoming one of the most sought-after conductors on the international stage. [...] With his artistic vision and abilities, he is a perfect fit for the DSO and for Berlin.”

The DSO is one of the four top ensembles of the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre gGmbH Berlin (ROC). Founded in 1946 as the RIAS Symphony Orchestra, it has been led by Chief Conductors including Ferenc Fricsay, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Kent Nagano.
 

Read more in the full press release here