Violinist Sophie Rowell has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Although she will formally take up the role in January next year, she intends to lead the orchestra’s programming in 2022 ahead of the 2023 season. She will be only the third artistic director in MCO’s over 30-year history following in the footsteps of William Hennessy and Jeffrey Crellin.

MCO’s new Artistic Director Sophie Rowell. Photo © Laura Manariti

“I am extremely honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra as its Artistic Director from 2023 and hope to build on the legacy of performance excellence that my wonderful predecessor William Hennessy has left for us,” RowelI said. “I see a future of exciting possibilities that only an orchestra with the flexibility and commitment of MCO can achieve and I can’t wait to get started sharing my artistic vision.”

An in-demand musician, Rowell moves to MCO from Melbourne Symphony Orchestra where she has been Concertmaster since 2015. Her career took off after she carried off the ABC Young Performer’s Award in 2000. As a founding member of the Tankstream Quartet,...