The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has appointed William Rowson as its new assistant conductor.

Rowson began his career while studying at the renowned Curtis Institute of Music and has become well-known in classical music circles for his remarkable versatility.

He has directed a number of Canada’s premier ensembles, including the Talisker Players, the Glenn Gould Professional School, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada. Most recently, he served as the principal conductor of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and Toronto’s Sneak Peek Orchestra.

The Saskatchewan-born maestro beat out eight other candidates in a two-day audition process led by VSO music director Bramwell Tovey, which has earned a reputation for being exceptionally rigorous. In a press release, Tovey states that the decision to employ Rowson was unanimous among the search committee.   

Rowson succeeds Gordon Gerrard, who served as the VSO’s assistant conductor from 2012 to 2014, and as associate conductor from September 2014 to the 2015-16 season.

Rowson’s two year term with the VSO begins at the start of the 2016-17 season next summer.