Dalia Stasevska has been named as the new Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, from the 2021/22 season. From 2021 she will also take on the role of artistic director of the orchestra's Sibelius Festival.

'For me, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra has long held a very special position', said the Finnish conductor, who has also held the post of Principal Guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2019.

'In Lahti there’s a tremendous amount of potential; the orchestra's players are inspired, they are minded to do great things and open to a wide range of repertoire and ideas. It's also a great pleasure to continue the Lahti Symphony Orchestra's important work with the music of Sibelius.' The orchestra's famed reputation in the composer's music include a number of acclaimed recordings under former conductor Osmo Vänskä which received three Gramophone Awards.  

Paying tribute to his successor, current Principal Conductor Dima Slobodeniouk said: 'I believe that Dalia has the ability to understand the aesthetics of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, and her way of working fits in with the high work principles of the orchestra. I hope that under Dalia's direction the Lahti Symphony Orchestra will become an even more diverse orchestra and grow both "upwards" into the world at large and "downwards" to strengthen its roots as Lahti’s own orchestra.'