German composer lands top US post

The Kansas City Symphony has just named Matthias Pintscher as its next music director.

Pintscher, 52, is best known as a modernist composer of mostly orchestral works.

But he has also been principal conductor of the Lucerne Festival and music director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

A professor at Juilliard, he lives in New York.

Kansas City have appointed him for a five-year terms, ten weeks a year, succeeding Michael Stern, who has held the post for two decades.

He says: ‘this is a big day for me! I feel so humbled to become the next music director of the fabulous and dynamic Kansas City Symphony in 2024. Thank you to these extraordinary musicians and their inspiring leadership team to put their trust in me and make me feel so welcome!’