Vancouver Symphony Orchestra associate conductor Gordon Gerrard has been appointed music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

He will start his new job in July 2016, while maintaining his role with the VSO.

“Gordon Gerrard is the ideal choice to lead the RSO and I am excited to see the fresh perspective, passion, and talent he will bring to the city,” said Tanya Derksen, RSO executive director, in a press announcement. “Maestro Gerrard is an exceptionally gifted musician and the concerts he conducted last season exemplify his wide range of experience and skill.”

Gerrard joined the VSO as assistant conductor in 2012 and was promoted to associate conductor at the beginning of the 2014-15 concert season. He trained first as a pianist and then as a specialist in operatic repertoire; for four seasons, Gerrard held the positions of resident conductor and repetiteur for Calgary Opera and he's also a regular guest conductor at companies like Opera McGill.

The 2015/16 season is a busy one for the in-demand maestro: he'll also lead productions of La Traviata at the Westben Festival in Campbellford, Ontario; Lakmé for Calgary Opera; and The Nutcracker for the National Ballet of Canada.

"My time with the VSO has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. To work so closely over the past three years with this incredible group of musicians has given me skills, perspective and insight that have become invaluable to me," Gerrard said in a press statement. "The chance to work alongside Bramwell Tovey has been the rarest of gifts. His passion, commitment, musicianship and generosity are an inspiration to me, and he has my unending respect and gratitude. It's a great honour for me to be chosen as the next Music Director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Seeing what great things the VSO can accomplish in this community has allowed me to understand how to build on the RSO's great tradition and to imagine some of the possibilities we can achieve for Regina."