Sir Andrew Davis will step down from his role as Chief Conductor with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the end of his contract in December 2019, the Orchestra announced today. The British maestro, who has led the MSO since 2013, will continue his artistic relationship with the orchestra as Conductor Laureate.

“I first conducted the MSO in 2009 and fell in love with the orchestra immediately,” said Davis, who will have conducted in seven seasons with the MSO in 2019. “The five years during which I have been Chief Conductor have been some of the happiest of my life. It is a delight and an honour to work with this extraordinary group of brilliant and dedicated musicians.”

Sir Andrew Davis, MSO, Melbourne Symphony OrchestraSir Andrew Davis. Photo © Peter Tarasiuk

Davis, who is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, has conducted and led musical organisations around the world, including 13 years as Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (of which he is now Conductor Laureate), 12 years as Music Director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 13 years as Principal Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (of which...