Ilan Volkov appointed at CBSO

Ilan Volkov has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor at City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, from 2026 to 2029. His first concert in the role is on 3 June 2026, conducting Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, as well as works by Frescobaldi, Purcell, Debussy, Mussorgsky and Bach.  

Volkov's appointment was announced alongside those of Alice Sara Ott and Jess Gillam as Collaborative Artists for 2026–28, a two-year contract extension for Kazuki Yamada and Rushil Ranjan as Collaborative Artist for 2025–27. CBSO Chief Executive Emma Stenning said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Ilan Volkov as our Principal Guest Conductor, and to have Alice Sara Ott, Jess Gillam and Rushil Ranjan join us as our first Collaborative Artists – all of whom will be embedded across CBSO activity ranging from concerts, tours and recordings, to work within our extensive education programme. Their combined artistry, ambition and reach will help the CBSO be more adventurous, inclusive, and resonant in this changing world. These appointments continue the journey we began with Kazuki Yamada’s appointment in 2023 – shaping an orchestra that reflects Birmingham’s spirit, is committed to artistic excellence and also broadens the appeal of orchestral music to audiences.’

Volkov said of the new position: ‘I am so happy about this appointment with the CBSO! I have worked with the orchestra for a long time now and we have shared many great musical experiences. Each concert is an immense privilege. The players have an incredible energy and they create a vast range of colours. I am inspired by each one of them, every time we meet. I also admire their open-hearted ethos of connecting with audiences and their willingness to experiment. I am so excited by the prospect of collaborating with them more deeply in the coming years, working through great classics of the orchestral repertoire, as well as bringing a few surprises!’