Alumnus Tom Fetherstonhaugh continues as BSO Assistant Conductor for another season

6 July 2023

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra have announced that alumnus Tom Fetherstonhaugh (Merton College 2016) will continue as their Assistant Conductor for the 2023-24 season. Tom was appointed in July 2022 after a rigorous audition process and since then has conducted a selection of key concerts throughout their season. He has also worked closely alongside Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits and visiting guest conductors, as well as across the community in conjunction with BSO Participate, the orchestra’s learning and participation department.

Next season, Tom will lead the BSO in concerts featuring soloists including Alim Beisembayev, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Eric Lu, Steven Osborne, István Várdai and Maria Włoszczowska. His performances span the orchestra’s year, and start with a tour of the South West with a programme that opens the BSO’s season. As well as appearing a number of times in the BSO’s main season at Lighthouse, Poole, Tom will work closely with BSO Participate, conducting eight ‘Explore the Orchestra’ schools’ concerts, a SEND schools’ tour, a new community opera in Cornwall, and On Your Doorstep performances in smaller venues. Tom will also conduct seven concerts for BSO Pops. 

Tom writes 'I’m thrilled to have been asked to spend another season with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as their Assistant Conductor. We have an exciting year ahead, with over 30 concerts together in venues across the South West. Making music with this remarkable orchestra is a pure joy, and I am greatly looking forward to continuing and building on our musical relationship in 2023-24'.

Tom Fetherstonhaugh read Music at Oxford, where he was organ scholar at Merton College and conducted Oxford University Sinfonietta. He went on to train with Roland Melia and later with Sian Edwards at the Royal Academy of Music, where he graduated with Distinction in 2021. He is the Conductor & Artistic Director of Fantasia Orchestra, which has recently been joined in concert by soloists including Alim Beisembayev, Jess Gillam, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Tasmin Little, and Jennifer Pike. Highlights this season have included concerts with Brandenburger Symphoniker, Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Ulster Orchestra (for BBC Radio 3's Afternoon Concert). 

For more information about the appointment, visit the BSO website.