Polish conductor Grzegorz Nowak is PPO's new music director and principal conductor

PPO music director/principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak 

The Cultural Center of the Philippines has finally made it official, Polish conductor Grzegorz Nowak is the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's new music director and principal conductor.

Nowak succeeds Japanese conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura who served as PPO's music director/principal conductor from 2016 up to 2021.

At the PPO's season series concert last October 2022, Nowak impressed audiences especially on how he handled the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that featured violinist Vincent Owen Romanban. As the youngest and most inexperienced soloist from last season, Romanban was deftly supported by Nowak's expert direction of the orchestra enabling the young violinist to hurdle a nervous start, increase his confidence as the piece went on, and finish with an authority that belied his years.

As the new music director, Maestro Nowak will be responsible for the preparation and implementation of the PPO’s thrusts, programs, concert season, training of musicians, and other related activities. He is expected to conduct at least 10 to 12 performances per year, including the regular PPO season, outreach tours, the Young People’s Concert Series, and other special events of CCP. He will also be in charge of a development program for the PPO members and ensure that the level of musicianship and artistic quality meets the highest standard.

Nowak will open the PPO's 39th season this September 15, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati with a program consisting of Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9, Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, with guest pianist Mark Bebbington, and Ottorino Respighi’s Pini di Roma, P 141.