Strasbourg Philharmonic extends contract with Aziz Shokhakimov

Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg (OPS) has extended the contract of music director Aziz Shokhakimov for an additional two years. Currently on his 2nd season with the orchestra, Shokhakimov’s initial contract was intended to last three seasons, but will now continue until the orchestra’s 2025-26 season.

The 34-year-old Uzbek conductor is OPS’ 15th musical and artistic director, conducting concerts at the orchestra’s home in Strasbourg’s Palais de la musique et des congrès as well as on tour. His next concert with the orchestra will be a programme of Bizet, Mussorgsky-Ravel and Tchaikovsky in collaboration with Tchaikovsky Piano Competition winner Alexandre Kantorow on 8 December.

Born in Uzbekistan in 1988, Shokhakimov studied violin, viola and orchestra conducting from the age of six. He made his conducting debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan at age 13 and became principal conductor of the orchestra at age 18. Shokhakimov’s career took off when he won the second prize at Bamburg’s Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition at the age of 21. In 2016, he won the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award at Salzburg Festival.

In 2017, Shokhakimov was appointed artistic director of Turkey’s Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2021 he moved with his family to Strasbourg to take up his current role with OPS. This season will see him conduct seven concert programmes as well as taking part in a collaboration with the Opéra National du Rhin. In February 2023, he will make his debut at the Opéra national de Paris with Lucia di Lammermoor.

Founded in 1855, the OPS ranks as one of the major orchestras in France and is one of the two permanent orchestras of the Opéra national du Rhin. It was awarded the label of ‘National Orchestra’ in 1994.