Blab Music
Matthias Pintscher Named Music Director of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
On August 10, 2026, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) announced a decisive step forward for its future. German conductor‑composer Matthias Pintscher will become the ensemble’s next Music Director, beginning in September 2027 under a four‑year contract that will run through the 2030‑31 season. He will succeed Jaime Martín, who will take the title of Music Director Laureate for the 2027‑28 season.
Pintscher’s relationship with LACO spans a decade. He first joined the orchestra in 2018 as Artist‑in‑Residence, where he shaped programming and launched education initiatives that reached local schools and community groups. In the 2026‑27 season he will serve as Music Director Designate, conducting the orchestra in Haydn’s Trauer Symphony, Kayhan Kalhor’s Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur, and Mozart’s Linz Symphony on April 23 and 25, 2027. The announcement follows a distinguished career that includes music directorship of the Kansas City Symphony through the 2033‑34 season and a creative partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony.
Beyond those high‑profile appointments, Pintscher’s résumé is rich with long‑term collaborations. He spent nine seasons as Artist‑in‑Association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, served as Season Creative Chair for the Tonhalle‑Orchester Zürich, and led the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris for a decade. His teaching credentials are equally extensive: he has worked as Principal Conductor of the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, directed the Heidelberger Atelier from 2005 to 2018, and contributed to programs at the Karajan Academy, Music Academy of the West, National Orchestral Institute, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, and Miami’s New World Symphony.
LACO’s move to a new performance venue is a key part of the organization’s trajectory. The orchestra will leave the 430‑seat Zipper Hall for the 1,000‑seat Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, a Frank Gehry‑designed space that will open in fall 2027 as part of the Colburn School’s new Center. Until the move is complete, LACO’s Orchestral Series concerts will continue at the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA’s Royce Hall.
In a statement, Pintscher said, “I am deeply honored to step into the role of Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble I have long admired. Since I first began working with LACO, I was struck by its spirit of openness and dedication, which is evident both on stage and throughout the organization. I am eager to develop a lasting and meaningful partnership with this extraordinary ensemble.” He added that Los Angeles’ cultural energy and artistic community are “very special places in my heart.”
LACO Executive Director Ben Cadwallader expressed enthusiasm: “Matthias Pintscher’s appointment marks a defining moment for LACO. He has a longstanding relationship with our musicians and this city, and he brings a relentless commitment to artistry that is at once fearless and expansive. That’s exactly why I can think of no one better to build upon Jaime Martín’s remarkable eight‑season legacy.”
Concertmaster Margaret Batjer welcomed the news, noting, “I could not be more thrilled that he has been chosen as LACO’s next Music Director. I believe he will honor the great tradition of our beloved orchestra and usher in a bold new era of artistic exploration and innovation.”
With Pintscher’s arrival, LACO will begin a new chapter that blends its established chamber‑orchestra tradition with contemporary programming and a larger, more ambitious home. The organization will continue to perform at its current venues while preparing for the transition to the Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall. Pintscher’s dual role with the Kansas City Symphony will persist through the 2033‑34 season, ensuring continuity for both ensembles.
The appointment underscores LACO’s commitment to artistic growth and community engagement, positioning the orchestra for a dynamic future in Los Angeles’ evolving cultural landscape.
Pintscher’s relationship with LACO spans a decade. He first joined the orchestra in 2018 as Artist‑in‑Residence, where he shaped programming and launched education initiatives that reached local schools and community groups. In the 2026‑27 season he will serve as Music Director Designate, conducting the orchestra in Haydn’s Trauer Symphony, Kayhan Kalhor’s Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur, and Mozart’s Linz Symphony on April 23 and 25, 2027. The announcement follows a distinguished career that includes music directorship of the Kansas City Symphony through the 2033‑34 season and a creative partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony.
Beyond those high‑profile appointments, Pintscher’s résumé is rich with long‑term collaborations. He spent nine seasons as Artist‑in‑Association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, served as Season Creative Chair for the Tonhalle‑Orchester Zürich, and led the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris for a decade. His teaching credentials are equally extensive: he has worked as Principal Conductor of the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, directed the Heidelberger Atelier from 2005 to 2018, and contributed to programs at the Karajan Academy, Music Academy of the West, National Orchestral Institute, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, and Miami’s New World Symphony.
LACO’s move to a new performance venue is a key part of the organization’s trajectory. The orchestra will leave the 430‑seat Zipper Hall for the 1,000‑seat Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, a Frank Gehry‑designed space that will open in fall 2027 as part of the Colburn School’s new Center. Until the move is complete, LACO’s Orchestral Series concerts will continue at the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA’s Royce Hall.
In a statement, Pintscher said, “I am deeply honored to step into the role of Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble I have long admired. Since I first began working with LACO, I was struck by its spirit of openness and dedication, which is evident both on stage and throughout the organization. I am eager to develop a lasting and meaningful partnership with this extraordinary ensemble.” He added that Los Angeles’ cultural energy and artistic community are “very special places in my heart.”
LACO Executive Director Ben Cadwallader expressed enthusiasm: “Matthias Pintscher’s appointment marks a defining moment for LACO. He has a longstanding relationship with our musicians and this city, and he brings a relentless commitment to artistry that is at once fearless and expansive. That’s exactly why I can think of no one better to build upon Jaime Martín’s remarkable eight‑season legacy.”
Concertmaster Margaret Batjer welcomed the news, noting, “I could not be more thrilled that he has been chosen as LACO’s next Music Director. I believe he will honor the great tradition of our beloved orchestra and usher in a bold new era of artistic exploration and innovation.”
With Pintscher’s arrival, LACO will begin a new chapter that blends its established chamber‑orchestra tradition with contemporary programming and a larger, more ambitious home. The organization will continue to perform at its current venues while preparing for the transition to the Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall. Pintscher’s dual role with the Kansas City Symphony will persist through the 2033‑34 season, ensuring continuity for both ensembles.
The appointment underscores LACO’s commitment to artistic growth and community engagement, positioning the orchestra for a dynamic future in Los Angeles’ evolving cultural landscape.
