The Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra has always had a preference for young conductors. Willem Mengelberg was 24 years old when he became chief conductor there in 1895 (and remained for exactly 50 years). Bernard Haitink took over the position at 32, Riccardo Chailly at 35. In 2022, the orchestra engaged the then 26-year-old Klaus Mäkelä as its "artistic partner", and now, in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, Aurel Dawidiuk, born in Hanover in 2000, has been engaged as the first "Bernard Haitink Associate Conductor" in the history of the Concertgebouw Orchestra.
This is all the more remarkable as Dawidiuk is also pursuing a successful dual career as an instrumentalist. He has won both piano and organ competitions, and this spring he is completing a tour of organ recitals between his appearances as a conductor. At his Zurich debut, he will juxtapose works by Bach with various homages to him.
In September 2026, he will then take up his first position as General Music Director of the Bochum Symphony Orchestra. This will also entail the directorship of the Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr - and thus a fourth job.
