Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard is renowned for his creativity and innovation in programming, his passion for education, an extensive catalogue of over 70 critically-acclaimed recordings, and an “uncanny ability to project a sense of the necessity of the musical trajectory” (Bachtrack). He studied with Bernstein at the 1988 Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, with Hiroyuki Iwaki in 1990, and went on to work closely with Seiji Ozawa, who appointed Dausgaard as Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1993-95). He has gone on to hold prominent positions such as Chief Conductor and Conductor Laureate of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Honorary Conductor of the Tuscan Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor and Music Director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and Chief Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, Dausgaard worked closely with Yasuhisa Toyota in the acoustic design of the DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen, and conducted the opening concerts of the new hall. He has been awarded the Cross of Chivalry by the Queen of Denmark and elected to the Royal Academy of Music in Sweden. 
 
As a guest conductor Dausgaard conducts many of the world’s leading orchestras including the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony, and Munich Philharmonic. In Japan, he consistently garners high praise for his performances with orchestras such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and New Japan Philharmonic, and artists including Dai Miyata and Maki Mori. In 2019 he conducted the "BBC Proms JAPAN," marking the first BBC Proms performances in Japan and Asia, leading the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and showcasing artists such as Vadim Repin, Fumiaki Miura, and Taro Hakase. He also appears regularly at prestigious festivals worldwide, notably the BBC Proms, Salzburg Festival, and Tanglewood. 
 
Dausgaard is passionate about music’s engagement with society and the issues of our time, and its relevance and potential as a vital and innovative force in the life of current and future generations. He introduced an innovative ‘Roots’ program spotlighting dialogue between artistic traditions and contextualizing works including Sibelius’ Kullervo and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with folk musicians, Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 with orthodox chant, and Strauss’ Alpine Symphony with traditional alphorns and Bavarian dance. 
 
This is his first appearance at PMF. 

☆Thomas Dausgaard - message to PMF