Kensho Watanabe appointed assistant conductor of Philadelphia Orchestra

Kensho Watanabe '09BS '10MM has been appointed assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he'll serve under acclaimed Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Watanabe studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller at the Curtis Institute of Music, earning a Diploma in 2013. As the school's first Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow, Watanabe was mentored for two years by Nézet-Séguin and had "incredible access" to the Philadelphia Orchestra, with which he's worked as a substitute violinist. Watanabe has directed numerous Curtis Opera Theatre productions and served as an assistant to Nézet-Séguin for Opera de Montréal's 2015 production of Elektra. Watanabe studied molecular, cell, and developmental biology at Yale College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 2009. He earned his master's degree in violin from the Yale School of Music, where he studied, as he had as an undergraduate, with Syoko Aki.

"Being at Yale really sparked my interest in conducting," Watanabe said, citing Yale Symphony Orchestra Music Director Toshiyuki Shimada, whom he assisted as an undergraduate, as a particularly supportive figure.

The summer after completing his undergraduate degree, and in the summers of 2010 and 2011, Watanabe studied with Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Summer Music Festival, where his interest in conducting took hold and led him to Mueller's studio at Curtis.

In addition to his work with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Watanabe's upcoming schedule includes appearances with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Métropolitain in Montreal. Looking forward to his work in Philadelphia, Watanabe said, "I've really grown up with this orchestra. I've learned so much from this orchestra."

Watanabe's appointment begins with the 2016-2017 Philadelphia Orchestra season.