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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scottish Symphony Orchestra today announced that the eminent British musician Andrew Manze will become its Associate Guest Conductor beginning season 2010/11. He takes over the role from Stefan Solyom, who steps down in December 2009.

His initial three-year contract as the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO's Associate Guest Conductor will be for a minimum of three weeks each season.

Speaking of the new appointment, Andrew Manze said: "I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Associate Guest Conductor of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Our first meeting in June 2009 was such an enjoyable one – no fuss, just music!

"I believe we share an approach to music which is simple and direct, so I cannot wait for our next project and I am sure I will be saying that every time."

He will return to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO in March 2010 to conduct performances of Schumann's Piano Concerto with soloist Angela Hewitt.

His first performance as Associate Guest Conductor in November 2010 will include Schoenberg's orchestration of Brahms's Piano Quartet in G Minor.

Andrew Manze now completes a line-up of staff conductors at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO headed by new Chief Conductor Donald Runnicles and Principal Guest Conductor Ilan Volkov.

Following on from his career as one of the world's leading baroque violinists Andrew Manze is now in great demand as a conductor of symphonic repertoire.

He draws upon a particularly wide range of expertise ranging from the baroque through classical, 19th and 20th century repertoire and his unique skills as a communicator make him a favourite with both audiences and orchestras.

Andrew Manze was Associate Director of The Academy of Ancient Music from 1996 to 2003, and Artistic Director of The English Concert.

Since 2006 he has been Principal Conductor of the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra in Sweden and is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

He has regular relationships with a number of leading orchestras including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Munich Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

His extensive discography has won him many awards including two Gramophone Awards, a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Music Magazine Award and a Grammy nomination in 2003.

A fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and a Visiting Professor at the Oslo Academy, he has contributed to new editions of sonatas and concertos by Mozart and Bach. He also teaches and writes about music, and was for several years a presenter of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3's Early Music Show.

Stefan Solyom, who steps down as the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO's Associate Guest Conductor in December 2009, becomes General Music Director and Principal Conductor of the German National Theatre and the Staatskapelle Weimar.

He will continue to regularly conduct the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO as a guest conductor.

SD3