Ilan Volkov announced as Principal Guest Conductor of CBSO alongside new Collaborative Artists & other artistic appointments

Ilan Volkov & the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2024 (Photo: Hannah Blake-Fathers)

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Ilan Volkov as Principal Guest Conductor from 2026 to 2029. The appointment comes along with announcements of pianist Alice Sara Ott and saxophonist Jess Gillam as Collaborative Artists and builds on the announcement of a two-year contract extension for for Kazuki Yamada, meaning he will remain Music Director until at least the end of the 2028/29 season. All this is complemented by the continuing relationship with with Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla as Associate Artist, and the announcement of composer and producer Rushil Ranjan as Collaborative Artist for 2025-27.

Ilan Volkov has long been admired for his fearless programming and deep curiosity, spanning the core symphonic repertoire to contemporary, experimental and cross-genre projects. He has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, as Principal Conductor from 2003, Principal Guest Conductor from 2009 to 2024, and currently as Creative Partner. And he is artistic director of Techtonics Festival which he founded in 2012.

Details of the first programmes and projects that the Collaborative Artists will lead will be announced in line with the 2026-27 Season.

Full details from the CBSO website.