The Royal Irish Academy of Music is proud to celebrate the appointment of alumnus Peter Whelan as the next Music Director of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, based in San Francisco. Whelan will officially begin his tenure in July 2026 for the 2026/27 season, becoming only the fourth Music Director in the ensemble’s 45-year history.
A native of Dublin, Peter Whelan’s musical journey began with piano lessons in his hometown of Celbridge. His formal training brought him to the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where, alongside studies at Trinity College Dublin, he made the decision to pursue music professionally. Reflecting on his time at the Academy in a 2022 interview with SF Opera, Whelan described the impact of hearing his teachers sing in harmony: “I was transfixed. It was like the gates to heaven were open and I knew this was something I had to pursue.”
Whelan’s career has since spanned continents and roles, from acclaimed solo bassoonist and conductor to Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Internationally recognised for his electrifying stage presence and historically informed approach, he brings a distinctive blend of scholarship, creativity, and theatricality to everything he does. In August 2025, he will make his debut at the BBC Proms conducting the Irish Baroque Orchestra in Alexander’s Feast, marking the ensemble’s first-ever appearance at the Proms and only the second time in the festival’s 125-year history that an Irish orchestra has performed there.
His appointment in San Francisco follows a widely praised debut with the Philharmonia in March 2025, where he conducted Handel’s Alceste. The performance was met with unanimous acclaim, and solidified his standing as a leading figure in the world of period performance.
“Peter Whelan represents the next generation of Baroque leadership—bold, inquisitive, and deeply musical,” said Philharmonia Executive Director & CEO Emma Moon. “His debut with Alceste was revelatory.”
As Music Director Designate, Whelan will begin shaping Philharmonia’s 2026/27 season and lead major projects including their SESSIONS series and the innovative Jews & Music initiative. His three-year initial term will run through the 2028/29 season.
Whelan’s artistic leadership continues to shine across major international stages, from the Royal Opera House to San Francisco Opera, where his conducting of Orpheus and Eurydice was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “delicate but unmistakable mastery.”
RIAM celebrates this exciting next chapter in Peter’s career, and we look forward to the continued impact of his artistry on audiences around the world.