John Storgårds

John Storgårds is an internationally acclaimed conductor and violinist born in Helsinki, Finland on October 20th, 1963. Currently Chief Conductor of both the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa, Storgårds is known for his artistic flair, vast repertoire and commitment to contemporary Scandinavian music.

Having started out as a violinist, Storgårds served as Concert Master for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, before studying conducting at the Sibelius Academy under Jorma Panula and Eri Klas. He has since enjoyed a dual career as both renowned violinist and esteemed conductor of some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.

Storgårds’ playing career continues to include solo roles as well as chamber music collaborations with a wide range of musicians and ensembles. Amongst many notable performances is the world premiere of Jean Sibelius’ Suite for Violin and String Orchestra in December, 1990, in which Osmo Vänskä conducted the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Storgårds performed the violin solo, on what would have been the composer’s 125th birthday.

As a conductor, Storgårds has enjoyed successful tenures with the Helsinki and Tampere Philharmonics. He is also a sought-after guest conductor who regularly leads some of the world’s top orchestras including the Berlin, Munich and New York Philharmonics and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In November 2022, having served as Principal Guest Conductor for several years, Storgårds was appointed Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with immediate effect, and in January 2024 it was announced that he would also become the next Chief Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra commencing at the start of the 2024 - 2025 season.

Storgårds also boasts an award-winning discography including critically acclaimed recordings of Nordic composers Sibelius and Nielsen, as well as works by numerous well known and more obscure composers. He was the recipient of the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2002 and the Pro Finlandia Prize in 2012, has served as Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra for almost 30 years, and remains one of the world’s most accomplished performers with both baton and bow.