The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced that Anna Handler will take up the newly-created post of Conductor-in-Residence at the start of the 2026–27 season in September 2026, with an initial term of three years.
The German-Colombian conductor and pianist, who turns 30 this month, will conduct the orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as in an annual project with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). She will also curate and perform in a chamber music programme.
The new post will be part of the LA Phil’s Artistic Leadership team, which includes Creative Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Adams as Creative Chair, Artist Collaborator Emmanuelle Haïm, Herbie Hancock as Creative Chair for Jazz, and Conductor Emeritus Zubin Mehta. Current Music Director Gustavo Dudamel finishes his tenure this summer, and as yet, a replacement has not been announced.
Handler’s relationship with the LA Phil began in 2023 as part of the Dudamel Fellowship Program, an experience she calls “profoundly formative”. Gustavo Dudamel said, “One of my greatest joys has been to watch our Dudamel Fellows continue to rise and share their incredible musical talents across the globe. Anna – with her boundless skill, curiosity, passion, and inspiration – is a perfect example, and I am so proud to welcome her back to our LA Phil family in this new capacity.”
Recently announced as Chief Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, a position that also begins in the 2026–27 season, Handler is rapidly expanding her global presence. She will also serve as Artist-in-Residence at Beethoven-Haus Bonn during its 2026–27 season. In September last year, our German editor picked Handler as 'one to watch'.
“I look forward to collaborating with these remarkable musicians, creating new concert experiences and engaging with audiences across Los Angeles,” she said of her appointment. “I have long admired the LA Phil as one of the most dynamic and innovative orchestras in the world.”
