Stepan Armasar will become the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s new associate conductor. The commitment is for two seasons, a position made possible thanks to the Haitink family.
‘During the 2026–27 and the 2027–28 seasons, Stepan Armasar will collaborate on approximately half the concert programmes. He will assist chief conductor designate Klaus Mäkelä and other leading conductors in Amsterdam and on tour, work with orchestra members in ensemble formation, and play a role in the orchestra’s talent development programmes. In the latter half of the 2027–28 season, Armasar will work with the orchestra for a week and conduct several subscription concerts.’
The selection process
‘Armasar was selected through a careful process involving chief conductor designate Klaus Mäkelä, the orchestra’s artistic committee, and Artistic Director Elena Dubinets.’
Taking over the reins from current associate conductor Aurel Dawidiuk
‘Armasar will succeed Aurel Dawidiuk who became the first associate conductor in the history of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2024. Dawidiuk will make his RCO debut later this week in two subscription concerts (April 10th & 12th, 2026). The programme will feature Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani, and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. In September, he will start his first season as music director of the Bochum Symphony Orchestra.’
Associate conductor role continues Bernard Haitink’s legacy
‘The RCO has a long tradition of talent development with initiatives ranging from its biennial youth orchestra Young, to the RCO Academy. With the Ammodo Conducting Masterclass and the Bernard Haitink Associate Conductorship, the orchestra invests in the development of conductors of the future. Former chief conductor Bernard Haitink presided over countless masterclasses during his long career and would often invite young conductors to assist him.’
More about Stepan Armasar
‘In 2025 as the youngest participant at the Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition, Armasar won both first prize and the audience prize, impressing both jury and orchestra with his interpretation of Luciano Berio’s Rendering‘ – a work the RCO performed earlier this season under Klaus Mäkelä.
‘Born in 2000, he began his musical training at the Secondary Special Music School of the St Petersburg Conservatoire studying accordion with Professor Alexander Dmitriev. During this period he became laureate of numerous international competitions including the Coupe Mondiale (Italy, 2017) and the Trophée Mondiale (France, 2017). He also received the Cultural Initiatives Award presented by Yuri Temirkanov.
‘While at the St Petersburg Conservatoire in 2019, he studied conducting with Professor Peter Gribanov.
‘Armasar has collaborated with orchestras such as the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Concert Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow State Conservatory, the Karaganda Symphony Orchestra, and the Rostov State Philharmonic Orchestra.
SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE | ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA | 7TH APRIL, 2026
Stepan Armasar is represented by Askonas Holt
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