Matthias Pintscher to Become Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras Music Director in 2027

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) announced that German composer‑conductor Matthias Pintscher will take over as music director from Jaime Martín. Pintscher’s first four‑year term will begin with the 2027‑28 season, and he will serve as music director designate during the 2026‑27 season, conducting concerts on April 23 and 25, 2027.

Pintscher, born in 1971 in Marl, North Rhine‑Westphalia, studied composition with Giselher Kleber and Manfred Trojahn. He has led the Kansas City Symphony as music director through the 2033‑34 season and was artistic director of Paris’s Ensemble Intercontemporain for a decade. His West Coast debut came in 2013 at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where he conducted his own works and a Stravinsky program. In 2020 he served as music director of the Ojai Festival, which was held online due to the pandemic.

Pintscher’s compositions have been performed by major orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is also a prolific conductor, and his appointment is expected to bring a contemporary focus to LACO’s programming.

Executive Director Ben Cadwallader said the appointment “marks a defining moment for LACO” and that he and Pintscher share a commitment to expanding the orchestra’s reach. Concertmaster Margaret Batjer expressed enthusiasm, calling Pintscher “one of the most visionary and extraordinary musicians of our time.” Pintscher himself said he was “deeply honored” to assume the role, noting his appreciation for LACO’s openness and dedication.

LACO’s current music director, Jaime Martín, will transition to the title of Music Director Laureate. Martín, a Spanish conductor born in 1965, has led the orchestra since 2022 and will continue to be involved in the organization’s artistic life.

The orchestra’s 2026‑27 season will open on September 26‑27 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA’s Royce Hall, with the Hollywood Bowl program on August 11 featuring an all‑Mozart concert with pianist Angela Hewitt.

Pintscher’s appointment follows a period of stability for LACO, which has presented its orchestral series at two venues in Los Angeles and has been guided by Cadwallader since 2019. The new leadership is expected to build on the orchestra’s reputation for high‑quality chamber music while exploring new works and community outreach.

The announcement was made on the LACO website and confirmed by the organization’s press office. No financial terms of the contract have been disclosed.

Pintscher will begin his duties in the 2027‑28 season, a period that will see him balancing his commitments to the Kansas City Symphony and LACO. The orchestra’s board has indicated that the transition will be smooth, with Pintscher already familiar with LACO’s musicians from his 2018 artist‑in‑residence engagement.

The move is part of a broader trend of chamber orchestras seeking conductors with strong compositional credentials to broaden their repertoire and audience appeal. LACO’s decision reflects its ongoing strategy to combine traditional programming with contemporary works.

As the 2026‑27 season progresses, LACO will continue to schedule concerts at its two primary venues and will likely feature Pintscher’s own compositions in the new season’s program.

The current situation is that Matthias Pintscher will officially assume the music director role in the 2027‑28 season, with a designated period of conductorship in 2026‑27. No further changes to the contract or schedule have been announced.