This is a non-exhaustive list of principal conductors by orchestra, classified by country and by city. The term 'principal conductor' is used here as an umbrella term to encompass such titles as:
* Principal conductor
* Music director
* Chief conductor
The term 'music director' is more common in the US and Canada, whereas 'principal conductor' or 'chief conductor' is more prevalent elsewhere. For orchestras which have both a music director and a principal conductor, such as the
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Royal Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, founded in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently based in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave most of its concerts at the Newcastle City Hall. Since 2004, the ...
and
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
The Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi (Symphony Orchestra of Milan Giuseppe Verdi) is an Italian orchestra based in Milan. The orchestra refers to itself as ''La Verdi'' colloquially. The orchestra's primary residence is the ''Auditor ...
, the person with the title of music director is given preference by hierarchy.
Orchestras which choose not to have principal conductors, such as the
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera Artistic Associate at Kings Place, and h ...
,
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is a full-time professional chamber orchestra based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In collaboration with five Artistic Partners, the orchestra's musicians present more than 130 concerts and educational programs ea ...
and the
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world.
The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. Its ...
, are omitted from this list. Likewise, principal conductors for opera companies are omitted, unless the orchestra of that opera company performs orchestral concerts under a separate name.
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Paraguay
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
Venezuela
Vietnam
References
{{Reflist
Conductors (music)
Conductors
Conductors