Joseph Young Named Berkeley Symphony Music Director

Joseph Young

Photo by Jeff Roffman

Cheery news from the Berkeley Symphony: Joseph Young has been named their next music director, succeeding Music Director Emerita Joana Carneiro, who stepped down at the end of the 2017-18 season. Young's first contract runs from the 2019-20 Season through 2021-22. 

He is a former Assistant MD of the Atlanta Symphony, where he conducted many concerts, and was also MD of their youth symphony orchestra; he served in Atlanta from 2014-17.

Below the cut, here's most of the press release, omitting only a sentence or two from the original.

In recent years, Joseph Young has made appearances with the Saint Louis Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Bamberger Symphoniker, New World Symphony Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, and the Orquesta Sinfonica y Coro de RTVE (Madrid); among others in the U.S. and Europe. From 2014 - 2017, Joseph served as the Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony where he conducted more than 50 concerts per season. Mr. Young also served as the Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he was the driving force behind the ensemble’s artistic growth. Other previous appointments have included Resident Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, and the League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow with Buffalo Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony. In recent years, he  Currently, Joseph is the Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Artistic Director of Ensembles at the Peabody Conservatory. Joseph became the Resident Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra (USA) in 2018.

Maestro Young first appeared with Berkeley Symphony to conduct Britten & Bernstein, the second symphonic concert of the 2018-19 Season, on January 31, 2019 in Zellerbach Hall. When the guest conductor for this concert canceled due to an illness, Young had just two days to prepare for the first rehearsal which included a world premiere composed by Hannah Kendall, Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, and Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. Young’s performance was well received by the musicians and audience alike. “Young’s ability to tackle at short notice not only Kendall’s world premiere but also significant works by Britten and Bernstein was an impressive display. Certainly he seemed to have the delicacy and urgency of Kendall’s writing well in hand.” - Joshua Kosman, The San Francisco Chronicle, February 1, 2019

“Joseph’s rapport with the orchestra is so clear and so heart-felt.  We are very fortunate that he could join us this season on such short notice, and it has been delightful getting to know him.  He will be a strong presence in the community, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come” stated Board of Directors Vice President for Governance and Music Director Search Committee Chair Kathleen Henschel.

"We are delighted to welcome Maestro Joseph Young to usher Berkeley Symphony into a next era as our new Music Director just prior to our 50th anniversary," stated Board President S. Shariq Yosufzai. "Maestro Young's musical brilliance and amazing virtuosity was evident in his interactions with our audience, the wonderful musicians of the orchestra, and the search committee. We are so excited to have him following in the footsteps of his three pace-setting and illustrious predecessors as our fourth music director.”

“I’m thrilled to be named the next Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony,” said Joseph Young.  “From our first rehearsal, I felt a fantastic connection and chemistry with the musicians. I became immediately struck  by the organization’s and community’s extraordinary history of innovation and energy. I am proud to become the leader of an orchestra with a celebrated past and high ambitions for the future.  As we open a new musical chapter together, I look forward to strengthening the connections between the orchestra, Berkeley and the greater Bay Area.”

Executive and Artistic Director René Mandel added, “As a person and as an artist, Joseph embodies a rare humility that was evident as soon as he stepped on the podium for the first time. There was an instant attraction that permeated throughout our entire family, both on and off the stage. Joseph is keenly aware of his role in our community and he will be an exemplary ambassador for the City of Berkeley and beyond.  We are deeply honored to have Joseph leading Berkeley Symphony into our next era.”

[I'm mildly surprised that Mr. Young's initial contract is only for three years.)