Simone Young will lead the Sydney Symphony Orchestra until the end of 2029 after the celebrated conductor signed a contract for a further three years.

Young was appointed Chief Conductor of the SSO in 2022, initially for a three-year term, which was then extended by two years. She is the first woman to hold the position.

Staying on: Simone Young with principal double bass Kees Boersma and principal oboe Shefali Pryor. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Continuing with her home city’s orchestra “just makes sense”, she said.

“We’re having such an amazing time together. The warmth doesn’t seem to be fading – the reception is getting stronger, if anything. I think the orchestra’s probably in its best form, and with so much more ahead of us, it would be silly to stop at this point.

“One of the

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