Joshua Weilerstein to Lausanne Post

NEC conducting and violin alumnus Joshua Weilerstein '05 Prep, ’09, ’11 M.M. has been appointed the new Artistic Director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. The announcement was made November 20 in Lausanne by OCL President Alexandre Curchod. Weilerstein's initial four-year tenure will begin in the 2015/16 season. He will conduct the orchestra in a minimum of two subscription concerts, one recording, and an annual international tour, as well as engaging in education and outreach projects.

The son of NEC faculty Donald Weilerstein and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein and brother of internationally recognized cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Joshua studied at NEC in the Preparatory School, then in the college both as an undergraduate and graduate student. During his last two years, he was a double major in violin and conducting and was a member of the first class of Hugh Wolff’s elite Orchestral Conducting program.  

In 2009, he was awarded both first prize and the audience prize at the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen. This year, he completed a three-year appointment as the Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic.

Weilerstein will return to NEC, March 11, to conduct the NEC Philharmonia in a program of Lutoslawski, Beethoven, and Shostakovich with Artist Diploma candidate Yoojin Jang appearing as soloist in the Beethoven Violin Concerto.

Responding to his appointment in Lausanne, Joshua commented: "I am so thrilled and honored to become the new Artistic Director of this wonderful orchestra. Ever since I first worked with the OCL in June of 2014, I was struck by the incredibly high quality of their playing and by their generosity and kindness of spirit.

"I am looking forward to working with the orchestra on a large variety of repertoire, from the Baroque to the classic German repertoire all the way up to and including 21st century music. I also look forward to taking the orchestra on tour and recording with the orchestra, but I’m perhaps most excited to broaden the OCL’s impact in the city of Lausanne. An orchestra should always be a thriving part of the cultural pulse of any city, and I will work hard to deepen the connection between the OCL and Lausanne by investing in outreach and education programs which are essential to ensuring future audiences for great music."

Benoît Braescu, Executive Director of the OCL, said: “I am delighted with Joshua’s appointment as Artistic Director of the OCL. It was a natural choice for us; he struck an immediate rapport with the orchestra and is not only a great musician, but also a generous and warm human being."

Joshua is prominent among the fast-rising new generation of conductors. This season, he makes an ambitious number of debuts and return engagements. Debuts include the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, DSO-Berlin, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and NHK Symphony. He returns to the BBC Symphony Orchestra (marking his Barbican debut), Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg (for a seven-city tour of Germany), Orchestre National du Capitôle de Toulouse, Vancouver Symphony, and the Florida Orchestra, among many others.

For further information, check the NEC Website.