Boston Symphony Orchestra Names New Assistant Conductor

French conductor and cellist Samy Rachid will step into the role in October 2023 for a two-year term

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) named French conductor Samy Rachid as its new assistant to Music Director Andris Nelsons. Rachid will commence his two-year term in the role in October 2023, at which point he will succeed current assistant Anna Rakitina. At present, the other assistant is Earl Lee.

Originally a cellist, Rachid was formerly a member of the Arod Quartet, with whom he won the 2015 Carl Nielsen Competition. He chose to step down from the ensemble to focus on conducting and swiftly made strides — winning second prize at the Tokyo International Music Competition for Conducting and being named Music Director of France's Orchestre Elektra.

In 2022, Rachid was the Conducting Fellow at the Verbier Festival, where he studied under Gianandrea Noseda and Klaus Mäkelä. In addition, he recently attended the Gstaad Conducting Academy, where he was awarded the Neeme Järvi Prize.

"All of us at the BSO are thrilled to welcome Samy Rachid as our new assistant conductor, said Anthony Fogg, the BSO's William I. Bernell Vice President for Artistic Planning.

"Samy’s impressive international achievements as a cellist, as well as his emerging skills as a conductor of great individuality and insights, make him an especially exciting choice for the BSO. We look forward to his first concerts with the orchestra in summer 2024 at Tanglewood and to introducing him to Symphony Hall audiences in 2024–25. I know that Samy will be a wonderful addition to the BSO family."

"I am overjoyed to be joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra family," said Rachid. "I discovered classical music with a recording of Charles Munch with the BSO, which inspired me to become a professional musician.

"Working with Maestro Nelsons and the wonderful musicians of the BSO is a great honor, and I look forward to becoming part of the Boston community."