NEWS

Following a thorough 18-month long search, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has announced the four-year appointment of Andrei Feher as the new Music Director, effective August 2018. Since the announcement in October 2015 that current Music Director Edwin Outwater’s tenure would finish at the end of the 2016/17 Season, the Search Committee has been working to find a suitable successor. Feher, chosen after a thorough 18-month long search, was noted for his conducting prowess and musicianship, as well his imaginative approach to performance, repertoire and community connection.

Born in Romania to a family of musicians, Andrei Feher began his musical education as a violinist in his hometown Satu Mare before continuing his studies at the Montreal Conservatoire when his parents relocated to Canada. In 2011, he began training as a conductor and, at only 22 years old, became the youngest assistant at the Québec Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of Fabien Gabel. In 2013 he worked with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of the Orchestre Métropolitan in Montreal, and in September 2014, Feher joined the Orchestre de Paris for a 2-year term as Assistant Conductor to its Music Director, Paavo Järvi. He made his debut with the KWS in November 2016 on the Signature Series concert Debuts & Bijoux and was extremely well received by musicians and audiences alike.

As Music Director, Feher will be responsible for the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony’s overall artistic leadership including programming and artistic direction.
“I am pleased and honoured to accept this position,” commented Andrei. “Having studied with Raffi Armenian, I feel a particular connection with the richness and history of the KWS. From my first contact with the Orchestra, I felt welcomed as if we already knew each other, as if I were part of the family. I believe that our future together will bring richly emotional experiences.”

“I’m thrilled to hear of Andrei Feher’s appointment,” commented current Music Director Edwin Outwater. “I met him recently in Paris and know he’ll be a great fit for the orchestra. I believe he will lead them with great musicianship, creativity and integrity. It’s clear that the KWS is confident in what it wants as an orchestra going forward, and I’m glad there will be such a solid and quick transition in artistic leadership.”

To see the announcement at the press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBfEUqNOxoc

Andrei Feher’s website: https://www.andreifeher.com

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony website: http://www.kwsymphony.ca/about/andrei-feher.php