Thomas Søndergård is Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra and Music Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, where this marks his final season before becoming Music Director Emeritus in 2027/28. From 2012 to 2018, he was principal conductor of BBC National Orchestra of Wales, following his tenure as principal conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.
The Danish conductor has appeared with many notable orchestras in Europe, such as Berliner Philharmoniker, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Orchestre National de France and all major Scandinavian orchestras. Overseas appearances have included the symphony orchestras of London, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Houston, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
His first appearance with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra was in September 2016, when he conducted a concert themed ‘Andalusia Melting Pot’ featuring works by Turina, Martín, Sotelo and Falla.
Opera has formed an important part of Thomas Søndergård’s career, with regular engagements at the Royal Danish Opera and collaborations with Staatsoper Stuttgart, Norwegian Opera, Royal Swedish Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he conducted the world premiere of Scartazzini’s Edward II.
A committed advocate of Scandinavian repertoire, Thomas has a particular affinity with the music of Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius. His discography spans Scandinavian, contemporary and core symphonic repertoire. His debut recording with the Minnesota Orchestra, featuring Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel Symphony as well as his Violin Concerto with Leila Josefowicz, was shortlisted for the 2026 Gramophone Awards.