The new Principal Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has curated a year of big pieces and big names in 2016.

With the announcement of his appointment as the new Principal Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in April, Nicholas Carter made history. Not only was the prodigiously accomplished 30-year-old conductor the youngest person ever charged with leading one of Australia’s state orchestras, but he was also unique for being the sole home-grown maestro in one of Australia’s top orchestral jobs.

The buzz around Carter’s appointment was palpable as many applauded the bravery of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for being willing to buck the trend of fly-in-fly-out international conductors manning the helms of the nation’s great orchestras. However one question has lingered subtly in the air since Carter stepped into the very big shoes of his predecessor Arvo Volmer: could such a relatively inexperienced (although unquestionably skilled) conductor deliver the artistic leadership required to maintain ASO’s standing within the ranks of Australia’s finest symphony orchestras.

Nicholas Carter

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