DuncanWard

★★★★★

'Ward’s superbly controlled performance was marvellous in its fierce dynamism and electrifying precision.' - Tim Ashley, The Guardian

British conductor Duncan Ward has established himself as one of the most exciting and versatile conductors of his generation. He is Chief Conductor of Philzuid (South Netherlands Philharmonic), a position he has held since 2020/21.

Duncan works regularly with orchestras including London Symphony, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Finnish Radio Symphony, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg & Les Siècles. Symphonic highlights of 2024/25 include debuts with Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Osaka Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique du Quebec & Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra alongside return visits to Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen & NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic.

Duncan made his North American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2022 with Die Zauberflöte. Recent opera highlights include his debut at Zurich Opera with Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as returning to Oper Köln for Peter Grimes. He opened the 2024/25 season with a critically acclaimed debut at English National Opera with a new production of Turn of the Screw. Further debuts include Opera National de Lyon (Cosi fan Tutte), Stuttgart Staatsoper (Death in Venice) and Bluebeard’s Castle with Oper Zuid & PhilZuid.

Duncan is passionate about a hugely wide-ranging repertoire, equally at home working with period instrument ensembles such as Les Siècles or Balthasar Neumann, as with contemporary music specialists like Ensemble Modern or Ensemble Intercontemporain. He is praised for his interpretations of 20th century masterpieces with major symphony orchestras including Frankfurt & Vienna Radio, Orchestre de Paris, Lucerne Symphonyand NDR Elbphilharmonie orchestras, alongside his stylish and vibrant interpretations of the classical repertoire with elite chamber orchestras like Aurora, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, or the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Committed to several music charity projects, in his late teens Duncan co-founded the WAM Foundation, enabling young British musicians to teach in schools across India. He has also regularly collaborated with the South African non-profit organisation MIAGI, for whom he directed a major tour in 2018 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth. He is a Patron of Young Sounds, supporting talented young musicians from low income backgrounds across the UK to fulfil their potential. Through his work across India, Duncan had the rare privilege to be personally invited to study Indian classical music with the late great sitarist Ravi Shankar.