In 2015, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra & Netherlands Chamber Orchestra introduced the role of assistant conductor for the first time. Starting from the 2020–2021 season, the position has been offered in partnership with Dutch National Opera. The (junior) assistant conductor is present at all rehearsals and concerts led by the chief conductor and is also assigned one or more smaller projects. The position is held for one year, with the possibility of extension for a second year.
For several conductors who served as assistant conductors with our orchestras, this role proved to be an important stepping stone in their ongoing careers. For instance, Nuno Coelho is chief conductor and artistic director of the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias and has conducted the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, among others. Jan Wierzba is artistic and musical director of the Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras in Portugal and has conducted the Orquestra Gulbenkian, among others. Nil Venditti was recently appointed chief conductor of Sinfonia Lahti, is principal guest conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, made her debuut at the BBC Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and has conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra, among others. Following his tenure as assistant conductor, Giuseppe Mengoli won first prize at the 2023 Mahler Competition and has since conducted the Wiener Symphoniker and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Alejandro Cantalapiedra has also conducted several orchestras, including Sinfonia Varsovia and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao, and won first prize at the II International Conducting Competition of Estoril.
