The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra has appointed William Rowson as its new artistic and executive director.
Rowson, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the University of Toronto, is hailed as one of Canada’s most compelling and versatile young artists for his work with orchestras across Canada.
He and his family plan to make Sudbury their home in the 2024-25 season and beyond.
Rowson's first appearance as the artistic director with the SSO will take place April 20 at the Fraser Auditorium for the "Early Spring Pops Concert," featuring the works of John Williams.
Bill will continue to serve as music director of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, where he was part of a team that brought the orchestra through COVID and built it back to capacity audiences and balanced the books.
The highlights of Rowson's career so far are numerous and include composing and recording the orchestral soundtrack to the feature length film “Brotherhood” in 2020.
His guest conducting highlights include appearances with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, the London Classical Soloists (UK), the Regina Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony, as well as return engagements with both the Saskatoon and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras.
An active composer, Rowson's original works and orchestral arrangements can be found on the programs of several orchestras and ensembles throughout Canada, the US and Europe with works broadcast in over 20 countries.
He is committed to music education of the highest calibre producing and writing several symphonic educational programs and working with youth ensembles throughout BC’s lower mainland as well as working at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music, the Glenn Gould Professional School, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada.
A strong advocate for orchestral music, Rowson is dedicated to exploring new ways of bridging the classical music experience into the 21st century through creative programming, community-oriented collaborations, socially engaged concert experiences, and utilizing social media and digital platforms to connect with new audiences.
