David Afkham Explained

David Afkham (born 1983^[1]) is a German conductor.

Biography

Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany,^[2] Afkham began violin and piano studies at age 6. At age 15, he studied at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, where he was a piano student of James Avery.^[3] In 2002, he won the competition.^[4] In 2007, he finished his conducting studies with Nicolás Pasquet at the Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt" in Weimar.^{[5] [6]} One of his siblings is Micha Afkham, a violist with the Berlin Philharmonic.

In 2008, Afkham won the first prize of the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition,^[7] and subsequently became assistant conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.^{[8] [9]} From 2009 to 2012, he was assistant conductor of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra.^[10]

In 2014, Afkham became principal conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de España (ONE).^[11] In February 2019, the ONE announced the elevation of Afkham's title with the orchestra to chief conductor and artistic director of the Orquesta y Coro Nacional de España (OCNE), effective with the 2019–2020 season.^[12] In January 2023, the OCNE announced the extension of Afkham's contract through September 2026.^[13]

Afkham has commercially recorded for such labels as Berlin Classics.^[14]

Further reading

• Web site: Rundfunk . Bayerischer . Leipold . Fridemann . David Afkham beim BRSO: Fliegen wie ein Vogelschwarm . BR-KLASSIK . 16 November 2023 . de . 21 October 2024.
• Program Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Rudiger . G. . "Dirigieren ist vor allem entstehen lassen": Der junge Dirigent David Afkham hat noch eine grosse Karriere vor sich . 2009 . 333323338.

Notes and References

1. Web site: "Karriere ist ein seltsames Wort" . concerti.de . 19 October 2016 . de . 21 October 2024.
2. Web site: Music and vision. Afkham, David. 31 March 2010.
3. Web site: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. David Afkham, Gulbenkian. 31 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719050043/http://www.musica.gulbenkian.pt/cgi-bin/wnp_db_dynamic_record.pl?dn=db_musica_bios_pt&sn=musica&orn=1616. 19 July 2011. dead.
4. Web site: "Ich will von innen führen" . . 16 December 2015 . de . 21 October 2024.
5. Web site: David Afkham übernimmt Nationalorchester Spaniens . www.radiolotte.de . 30 May 2013 . de . 21 October 2024.
6. https://www.hfm-weimar.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/LISZT-Magazin/LISZT-Magazin_Weimarer_Dirigentenschmiede.pdf Weimarer Dirigentenschmiede
7. Web site: Interview: David Afkham . London Symphony Orchestra (blog) . Sarah Breeden . 12 January 2015 . 18 January 2023.
8. News: Karen Wada. Los Angeles Times. Dudamels in the making? L.A. Phil names conducting fellows. 30 April 2009. 31 March 2010.
9. Web site: David Afkham gewinnt den Donatella-Flick-Dirigierwettbewerb in London. NMZ . 9 October 2018 . 31 March 2010.
10. Web site: Keogh . Tom . David Afkham, Gautier Capuçon will be part of March 21-23 SSO concerts . The Seattle Times . 15 March 2013 . 21 October 2024.
11. Rubén Amón: "David Afkham: 'La cultura es nuestra identidad'", El Mundo, 16 February 2015
12. David Afkham appointed Chief Conductor & Artistic Director of Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España . Askonas Holt . 13 February 2019 . 18 January 2023.
13. David Afkham seguirá al frente de la Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España . Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España . 10 January 2023 . 18 January 2023.
14. News: Christiane Karg: Parfum review – gorgeous, intoxicating, liquid soprano . The Guardian . Erica Jeal . 4 May 2017 . 18 January 2023.