Montrealer appointed as guest conductor of Victoria Symphony

Montreal-born Yannick Nézet-Séguin has been appointed principal guest conductor with the Victoria Symphony.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Nézet-Séguin will conduct in Victoria for four weeks of every symphony season until 2006.

Currently artistic director of Montreal's Orchestre Metropolitain, the Nézet-Séguin, 27, is also guest conductor at L'Opéra de Montréal.

Nézet-Séguin has "the gift of engaging others in the magic of making music," says Victoria Symphony general manager Michael Aze.

"In Victoria, the audience response to him was phenomenal, and something we couldn't ignore," said Aze.

For his part, Nézet-Séguin said he's looking forward to his time on the West Coast.

"The musical and human warmth of the orchestra players, the quality of its administration and the support of its community have already made Victoria a very special place in my musical life," he said in a statement.

Nézet-Séguin remains in the running for position of Victoria Symphony music director, said symphony president Brian Butler.

The Victoria Symphony has been searching for a new director since Kees Bakels left in 2001. Timothy Vernon has been serving as interim director.