Old Salopian appointed first Resident Conductor of Canada's National Arts Orchestra

Henry Kennedy (I 2009-14) has been selected as Resident Conductor of NAC orchestra based in Ottawa.

Henry Kennedy comes from Nova Scotian heritage but has spent his educational and professional life mostly based in the UK. Henry who is still only 27 is already a distinguished young conductor with a background in both opera and orchestral music, having recently completed his tenure as Conductor of Wroclaw Opera, in Poland, where he led numerous productions during the 2022-2023 season. Last summer, he was the Assistant Conductor to Sir John Eliot Gardiner for Berlioz’s monumental opera Les Troyens, touring prestigious venues such as the Berlioz Festival, Salzburg Festival, The Royal Opera of Versailles, Berliner Philharmonie, and BBC Proms. His forthcoming engagements include performances of Tosca in Italy with Orchestra Cherubini, marking the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death.

As the founder of the London, UK-based Resonate Symphony Orchestra and its music director since 2017, Henry Kennedy has curated and conducted diverse programs across London’s prominent concert halls. His training includes studying under Riccardo Muti and assisting several esteemed conductors with leading symphony and opera orchestras worldwide.

Henry will visit Ottawa this summer to attend the NAC Orchestra’s summer concert series and officially starts his tenure in September 2024.