About

Leo McFall is Principal Conductor of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, and Chief Conductor of Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg. He also has a strong association with the Alma Mahler Kammerorchester, an ensemble of young musicians from top European orchestras.

In recent seasons he has appeared with the BBC Philharmonic, the Hanover Band, Orchestre National de Lyon, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Dortmund Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, Oulu Sinfonia and Kuopio Symphony Orchestras. His recording of Emilie Mayer’s early Symphonies won the 2021 Opus Klassik award for best recording of 18th Century Symphonic Music, and featured in the New York Times ‘Best Classical Recordings of 2020’ list.

In addition to his concert activities, Leo McFall has conducted for English National Opera (La Traviata), Glyndebourne Festival and Glyndebourne on Tour (Vanessa, Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni), Opera North (The Turn of the Screw), Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (Otello and Falstaff), and the Heidelberg Theatre (Rusalka.) His first titled position was as Erste Kapellmeister of the Staatstheater Meiningen, where he conducted a wide-ranging repertoire including Tristan und Isolde and Tannhäuser. During this time he was also assistant conductor of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, with whom he appeared in concert with Duke Bluebeard’s Castle.

After participating in masterclasses in London and Lucerne, Leo worked extensively with Bernard Haitink, assisting him in projects with the Royal Concertgebouw, Chicago Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony and Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

A pianist and violist, Leo McFall studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy and with Johannes Schlaefli at the Zürich Hochschule der Kunst. He was awarded the Deutsche Dirigentenpreis (German Conducting Prize) in 2015 and was a finalist in the Salzburg/Nestle Conducting award 2014.