Birmingham conductor Alpesh Chauhan is to continue as assistant conductor at the CBSO after his contract was extended into a second year.
The announcement comes as the CBSO continues its search for a new music director as Andris Nelsons leaves to take up a full time role with Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Effectively Alpesh, along with principal guest conductor Edward Gardner (his own contract recently extended) and associate conductor Michael Seal will be holding the fort, and he is decidedly upbeat about it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an exciting period for the orchestra,鈥 he says, 鈥渁nd it will be interesting to see so many young conductors bringing their different ways of working with the players.鈥
His accolades have arrived so young (he鈥檚 still only 25), and it鈥檚 a bit like the Simon Rattle story, I observe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice of you to say that,鈥 is Alpesh鈥檚 modest reply.
So many glittering opportunities have been falling into Alpesh鈥檚 lap during the last month.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the sort of thing I鈥檝e been dreaming of since a child,鈥 he readily admits.
First came a last-minute call-up to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for concerts in Glasgow and Aberdeen. Alpesh tells me how this came about.
鈥淚鈥檇 already worked with the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester a couple of times, so word got around. But then Donald Runnicles, conducting in Berlin, had some back problems, with only a couple of days left.
The programme was the Janacek Sinfonietta, Shostakovich鈥檚 first Piano Concerto with Garrick Ohlsson, and his 15th Symphony.
鈥淥bviously it had already been announced that I鈥檓 doing that symphony with the CBSO next season, so it was fresh in their mind. So they just rang me!鈥
The Glasgow concert was relayed live, and the one in Aberdeen is in the can for future broadcasting. And then came the huge opportunity right on Alpesh鈥檚 Birmingham doorstep.
Two weeks ago, after a draining tour over much of Europe, the CBSO returned home, and Andris Nelsons returned with an acute ear infection. There was a concert to be broadcast live immediately in the offing. Alpesh picks up the tale.
鈥淲e鈥檇 recently returned from a three-week-tour, involving 15 concerts across seven countries when, less than 24 hours before the one and only rehearsal for the performance was to take place, I got a call from Stephen Maddock (CBSO chief executive) asking me to stand in for Andris who was unwell.
鈥淚鈥檇 supported him through his gruelling schedule of rehearsals and performances on tour and the Dvo艡谩k Seventh was one of the symphonies I knew relatively well from this. As a result, I made my CBSO conducting debut with two concerts, one at Symphony Hall and one at Oxford鈥檚 Sheldonian.
鈥淭he Orchestra were incredibly supportive and played impeccably; I couldn鈥檛 have done it without the whole-hearted support of the musicians.鈥
And Alpesh continues touchingly. 鈥淲hen it鈥檚 last-minute you don鈥檛 have time to stress, or to get nervous, you just have to get on with it.鈥
There was a wonderful letter in last week鈥檚 Birmingham Post, praising Alpesh鈥檚 emergency stand-in for Andris Nelsons to the skies, and suggesting the orchestra need look no further for a successor.
鈥淚 was very, very touched by it. Actually it鈥檚 a funny story. I bought the paper to have a look at the review of the concert, but later on my Mom said there鈥檚 a photo of you and a letter! It鈥檚 just lovely, with the Birmingham audience all around me, with a very, very warm reception.
鈥淚 appreciate it so much.鈥
Alpesh is a Brummie through and through. He went to Hall Green Primary School and subsequently to Handsworth Grammar, he rose through the CBSO Youth Orchestra to become leader of the cellists, he studied cello (one of the greatest achievements of the Young Musicians鈥 Trust) at the Royal Northern College of Music with CBSO principal cellist Eduardo Vassallo, and then gained a place on the prestigious conducting course.
And now here he is back home, cradling a baton he鈥檇 always dreamed about. This afternoon he conducts a concert showcasing every section of the CBSO. It鈥檚 also a showcase for his own amazing talent.
Alpesh Chauhan conducts a CBSO Summer Showcase on June 25 at 2.15pm. Details on 0121 780 3333.
