Internationally Acclaimed Conductor Marin Alsop to Become Artistic Director of the Webern Chamber Philharmonic of mdw
The internationally acclaimed conductor, longtime friend and honorary member of mdw will shape the artistic direction of the university’s young professional orchestra.
New York, NY, September 30, 2026 — mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is pleased to announce Marin Alsop as the new Artistic Director of the Webern Chamber Philharmonic. With one of the most distinguished conductors of our time, the orchestra gains an internationally renowned artistic leader who has maintained a close relationship with mdw for many years.
A Young Orchestra with High Aspirations
The Webern Chamber Philharmonic was founded in 2015 to help aspiring orchestral musicians at mdw transition into professional careers. Participation is open to current students and recent graduates of mdw who qualify through outstanding academic achievement or a competitive audition. The orchestra also benefits from the experience of mdw’s large Webern Symphony Orchestra, which regularly collaborates with leading conductors of our time—including Zubin Mehta, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and Kirill Petrenko, all of whom are alumni of the university. In recent years, the Webern Chamber Philharmonic has established itself as a symphonic and opera orchestra, as well as a project partner of leading concert halls and festivals in Vienna.
One of the Most Influential Conductors of Our Time
Marin Alsop is among the world’s most influential and highly regarded conductors. From 2019 through summer 2025, she served as Chief Conductor of the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, appearing regularly at the Wiener Konzerthaus and Musikverein as well as on international concert stages. From 2007 to 2021, she served as the first woman to lead a major U.S. orchestra as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which named her an Honorary Conductor in 2021. In 2013, she became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the BBC Proms in London.
The appointment of an internationally acclaimed conductor such as Marin Alsop to lead a (partially) student orchestra underscores mdw’s world-class standing and international reputation. Going forward, Marin Alsop and the Webern Chamber Philharmonic will jointly serve as ambassadors for mdw. Conducting students will gain valuable practical experience, while through its programming and the targeted invitation of women conductors and soloists, the orchestra will further increase the visibility of mdw’s longstanding commitment to gender equality in the music industry.
First Joint Performance
Marin Alsop will make her debut as Artistic Director on October 4, 2026, at the Webern Chamber Philharmonic’s benefit concert at Casino Baden in support of the Austrian charitable organization Licht ins Dunkel, which will be recorded live by ORF.
Ulrike Sych, Rector of mdw, said: “The fact that world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop is taking on the artistic leadership of our Webern Chamber Philharmonic is an enormous benefit to our students and a powerful signal extending far beyond mdw. Marin Alsop stands, like few others, for the combination of artistic excellence and social engagement, for the courage to forge new paths, and for a vision of leadership that sees the intentional development of others as a fundamental responsibility.”