Chief Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra since January 2021 and Principal Conductor of the Polish Royal Opera since 2017, and stepping into the role of Chief Conductor of the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra from 2026, Dawid Runtz is increasingly recognized internationally for his impeccable, elegant technique, thorough command of complex scores, extraordinary sensitivity, effective communication, and uniquely evocative performances. He works with orchestras such as the Staatskapelle Weimar, Warsaw Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonia, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and many others.

His work with the ZPO so far has featured critically acclaimed performances of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, for which he has been lauded as “born to conduct” (Jutarnij list). In 2019, he toured Kuwait with the Orchestra, and in January 2020, conducted a concert celebrating the official assumption of the presidency of the Council of the European Union by Croatia at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, which ultimately secured his current tenure with the ensemble. In 2021 Runtz led the ZPO during the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest to rave reviews.

Most notable among Runtz’s guest conducting projects to date include a successful Japanese debut in 2017 with the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Sapporo, conducting Strauss’ Don Juan as a member of the PMF Conducting Academy, a tour of Lithuania with the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence, the opening concert of the Krzysztof Penderecki Festival with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra on the occasion of the composer’s 85th birthday, and a concert with the same orchestra at the 10th La Folle Journée festival. Runtz led the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra at the 25th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw. In 2024 he conducted the Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein during a ceremonial concert in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the European Commission.

Past achievements that have built up Runtz’s distinctive conducting craft include participation in the 2nd edition of the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy (2016). He also took part in the prestigious masterclass with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam led by Daniele Gatti. In 2018 Runtz won 3rd Prize and the Audience Prize at the 1st International Hong Kong Conducting Competition, conducting Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in the finals. While in America, he attended the renowned Tanglewood Conducting Seminar led by Maestro Stefan Asbury.

Runtz has received numerous conducting awards and scholarships from his native Poland, including most recently the 2024 Polish national "Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Award" in the "best conductor" category. In 2022 he received the Croatian Prize "Orlando" for artistic achievements, awarded by Croatian Radio and Television HRT and the Ministry of Culture. From the 2023/24 season, Runtz, together with the Zagreb Philharmonic, is recording two albums per year for the NAXOS label as part of the new project "Croatian Music."

After attending PMF 2017 as a member of the Conducting Academy, Runtz was scheduled to return to PMF in 2020 before its cancellation due to the pandemic. He now returns to conduct the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra in the PMF Host City Concert, and the PMF 35th Anniversary Chamber Orchestra.