Vladimir Ashkenazy has announced today that after 15 years as Music Director of the European Union Youth Orchestra he has resigned with immediate effect. He was appointed to this position in 2000 in succession to Bernard Haitink who had been preceded by Claudio Abbado and Colin Davis.

He sends his best wishes to the orchestra’s wonderful musicians, present and past, for whom he feels the warmest commitment and affection. It is a matter of great satisfaction to him that during his 15 years as Music Director so many alumni of the EUYO have taken up leading positions in top orchestras throughout the Union. He also extends his love and admiration to Joy Bryer the founder and irreplaceable mentor of this great and noble institution which has so profoundly changed the ethos of orchestras throughout Europe by inspiring two generations of musicians to bring to their lives in music new levels of professionalism and engagement.