Conductor Christian Kluxen renews as Music Director of Victoria Symphony
Now in his eighth season as Music Director, Victoria Symphony has extended the tenure of Christian Kluxen as Music Director until 2028. With the relationship going from strength to strength, the collaboration has seen the ensemble reaching new artistic heights, achieving record-breaking audience numbers, and developing an ever more keen sense of engagement with the community.
On the announcement, Kluxen says “I’m delighted to continue my partnership with the Victoria Symphony. Over the years, the orchestra has grown in artistry, with incredible new musicians joining our ranks. We are also enjoying a resurgence in community connection, as shown most recently by the strongest ticket sales we have seen in a decade. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our musicians and staff. While I see myself primarily as a guide in helping uncover and grow the orchestra’s unique personality, they have also become a vital part of my own musical identity. This mutual respect defines our collaboration, and I’m excited to keep building on this momentum together.”
“Renewing Christian’s contract for another three years is a reflection of our appreciation of the outstanding work he has done to improve the artistic standard of this great orchestra and infuse the programming with new energy,” adds Tom Siemens, President of the Victoria Symphony Society Board. “This renewal will bring his time with the organization to just over a decade and will allow us the opportunity to continue working together to raise the standards and diversify our programming even further.”
Speaking to the importance of Kluxen’s artistic leadership, Victoria Symphony’s CEO Matthew White remarks “I love collaborating with Christian and feel it is a privilege to work with an artist who is willing to take significant programming risks and consistently delivers on his promise to surprise and delight. His raw musical energy and authenticity are at the heart of why our audiences and musicians love him.”
Kluxen is currently in his second season as Principal Guest Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland, who have also recently renewed his position for a further season, alongside which recent and forthcoming guest engagements include Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Pacific, Oregon, Vancouver, Prague Radio, Odense, and Norrköping Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Copenhagen Philharmonic and the Orchestra of Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden.