Sophie Rowell to be new Artistic Director

The Board of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra is delighted to announce that Sophie Rowell will be the Artistic Director of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra from 2023.
 
Ms Rowell is one of Australia’s most respected and recognisable violinists. She is a current Concertmaster of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Sophie is well known to national audiences for founding the Tankstream Quartet, later appointed to the Australian String Quartet, as well as winning the ABC Young Performer’s Award in 2000. She is in much demand as a teacher, and her ongoing role at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) will also align well with MCO’s long-standing commitment to emerging musicians.
 
Ms Rowell will be just the third artistic director of MCO in its 30-plus year history.
 
Sophie RowelI says, “I am extremely honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra as its Artistic Director from 2023 and hope to build on the legacy of performance excellence that my wonderful predecessor William Hennessy has left for us. I see a future of exciting possibilities that only an orchestra with the flexibility and commitment of MCO can achieve and I can’t wait to get started sharing my artistic vision with you all. Thank you to my dear colleagues at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for their support and encouragement as I begin the next chapter in my musical life.”
 
In advance of her appointment, we are fortunate to have Sophie as guest director and soloist for MCO from 30 April – 5 May 2022 in the project “Bach’s World”.
 
Media enquiries: Di Rolle
 
Image credit: Laura Manariti