| Yuval Weinberg will become the new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Rundfunkchor Berlin, one of the four top ensembles of the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre gGmbH Berlin (ROC). The 35 year old conductor will take up the position on 1 August 2028 under a five year contract, succeeding Gijs Leenaars, who has held the post since 2015. Weinberg will already be involved in the choirs’ artistic planning in his role as designated Chief Conductor during the 2027/28 season. |
| “I greatly admire the versatility and social engagement of the Rundfunkchor Berlin and very much appreciate its innovative spirit. I believe we will inspire each other and discover new artistic paths together – and on a personal level, I look forward to delving into areas of repertoire that have not been my main focus recently”, says Yuval Weinberg. Weinberg made his debut with the Rundfunkchor Berlin in December 2024 when he conducted the traditional Christmas concert at the Berlin Cathedral – a stunning performance that clearly reflected his distinctive artistic signature. To mark the 200th anniversary of Anton Bruckner’s birth, he paired selected works by Bruckner with compositions by Nana Forte and Eran Dinur. The choir had previously had the opportunity to work with Weinberg in choral preparations: in February 2023 on György Ligeti’s Requiem for the Berlin Philharmonic under Matthias Pintscher, and in Februrary 2022 for Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Bamberg Symphony under Jakob Hrůša and the Berlin Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel. Judith Engel, Chair of the Choir Board, representing the ensemble: “In our past encounters, we have experienced Yuval Weinberg as an exceptionally precise and sensitive musician who combines interpretive clarity with a deep understanding of collective artistic work. We very much look forward to our future collaboration and are convinced that his musicality and his subtle instinct for people and sound will shape the Rundfunkchor Berlin in the years to come.” Rachel-Sophia Dries, Choral Director: “I am truly delighted that Yuval Weinberg has accepted the position as Chief Conductor of the Rundfunkchor Berlin – an artist who unites musical excellence and passion and who will continue to develop the ensemble both artistically and tonally, strengthening its national and international prestige. Together we share the goal of making music accessible to everyone and guiding the Rundfunkchor Berlin towards a successful future.” Anselm Rose, Managing Director of ROC: “With Yuval Weinberg we have been able to engage one of the most exciting and internationally sought-after choral conductors of our time for the Rundfunkchor Berlin. His artistic expertise, deep musical expressiveness and inspiring personality have instantly won over the ensemble. He will enrich Berlin’s musical life as both a musician and a person.” Over the past years, Yuval Weinberg has gained recognition for his inventive programming and artistic excellence. Hereby a close connection with his audiences has always been central to his approach – a philosophy that perfectly aligns with the Rundfunkchor Berlin’s values and mission. Yuval Weinberg follows in the footsteps of the Rundfunkchor Berlin’s distinguished Chief Conductors, including Helmut Koch, Dietrich Knothe, Robin Gritton, Simon Halsey and Gijs Leenaars. Founded in 1925, Rundfunkchor Berlin is one of the world’s leading professional choirs, performing around 60 concerts annually and receiving international acclaim for its recordings, guest appear-ances and three Grammy Awards. Yuval Weinberg Since the 2020/21 season, Yuval Weinberg has served as Chief Conductor of the SWR Vokalensemble, making him the youngest artistic leader of an ARD ensemble. His recordings have received multiple accolades, including the Diapa-son d’Or and the German Record Critics’ Award. He regularly works with prominent choirs across Europe, including the Bavarian Radio Chorus, the Salzburg Bach Choir, the MDR Radio Choir, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Bulgarian National Philharmonic Choir and the Turkish State Choir. From 2019 to 2023 he conducted the European Youth Choir, and from 2019 to 2021 he served as Principal Guest Conductor of Det Norske Solistkor, whose artistic direction he will take over in autumn 2026. As chorus master, he has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Herbert Blomstedt, Gustavo Dudamel and Teodor Currentzis. Weinberg has premiered numerous works of contemporary choral and vocal music and maintains close collaborations with leading composers of our time. Dedicated to promoting the next generation of singers, Weinberg is actively involved in young-artist development through his leadership of youth and project choirs across Europe, as well as through international workshops and mentoring. His educational engagements include the EuroChoir, the German National Youth Choir and the national youth choirs of Norway, France, the Netherlands, the Basque Country and Catalonia. He frequently teaches masterclasses at international festivals such as Europa Cantat, Choralies and the Marktoberdorf Chamber Choir Festival as well as at universities throughout Europe. Weinberg studied choral conducting at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin with Jörg-Peter Weigle and at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo with Grete Pedersen, after studying orchestral conducting at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv. |
