Newswire | OSM to Renew Rafael Payare's Tenure

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MONTREAL, April 22, 2026 — The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is honoured to announce the renewal of Rafael Payare’s tenure for a five-year term. Maestro Payare, whose initial term will conclude in the spring of 2027, will carry his cherished relationship with the OSM—now as Music and Artistic Director—through the 2031–2032 season, dedicating 14 to 16 weeks each regular season. The change in title reflects his desire to shape the future of the OSM beyond programming and his presence on the podium.

Since being appointed in 2021, Rafael Payare has consolidated the OSM’s place at the forefront of major North American orchestras, infusing energy, ardour and renewal into the Orchestra, while reaffirming the OSM’s role as a cultural institution firmly rooted in the communities of Montreal, Quebec and Canada. On the world’s greatest stages, Rafael Payare serves as an ambassador for the OSM, its history, and the culture it represents. With the Orchestra, in Montreal and on tour, he embodies Quebec and Canada’s excellence in classical music.

It is pure joy to see the relationship between Rafael, and the Orchestra continue so seamlessly. Since his first moment on the podium, a symbiotic connection was established with the musicians. His conducting style, both rigorous and radiant, reflects his deep respect for the members of the Orchestra. Owing to the strength of his artistic vision, he excels in steering the Orchestra to new heights. His community engagement energizes the OSM’s profile and makes the Orchestra more accessible and open. Rafael’s vision is now an integral part of the OSM’s DNA, to our immense delight.

— Mélanie La Couture, OSM President and Chief Executive Officer

Photo: Antoine Saito

Artistic leadership acclaimed and rooted in Montreal

A graduate of Venezuela’s El Sistema program, Rafael Payare was appointed by a unanimous vote on January 7 2021, as the OSM’s 9th Music Director. He rapidly distinguished himself in Montreal and on the world’s foremost stages, embodying the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s mission of excellence through his charisma and artistic vision. During his first term, Payare notably conducted the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin and Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Since 2022, he has led the OSM on four international tours—one in South Korea, one in the United States, and two in Europe. He also fulfilled a long-held dream: creating the Programme El Sistema OSM to enable some 120 young students from Montréal-Nord to learn orchestral music completely free of charge. Finally, he has recorded four albums with the Orchestra on the PENTATONE label.

The love and connection I share with the Orchestra’s musicians, just like the warm reception I continue to receive from the Montreal community, make me blessed to carry forward this wonderful relationship with the OSM. My family and I have made Montreal our home out of love for this cultural and gastronomical metropolis, and we are proud to be Montrealers. Since my appointment, I have pursued cycles devoted to the works of Mahler and Shostakovich, while also giving pride of place to Québécois, Canadian and Latin American works and artists. In recording, I enjoyed the opportunity of delving into the post-Romantic Germanic repertoire and returning to the sources of the OSM with the French repertoire, notably Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Ravel’s ballet Daphnis et Chloé. So many beautiful programs have been achieved since 2022, which makes me even more eager for what we can build together in the future.

— Rafael Payare, Music and Artistic Director of the OSM

Looking to the future

Photo: Sasha Onyshchenko

Building on a level of excellence recognized on the international stage, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal continues to undertake ambitious projects that only an institution among the world’s great orchestras can pursue. True to its tradition since 1960, the Orchestra places a strong emphasis on international tours, studio recordings, and broadcasts. The renewal of Rafael Payare’s tenure signals a continuation of this tradition, guiding the Orchestra to revisit—with passion and sensitivity—works that have made the OSM’s renown, while also embarking on new cycles and exploring fresh musical eras. The programming will likewise feature a prominent place for Latin American artists and composers, a vital source of enrichment for Payare.

The renewal of Rafael Payare’s tenure also heralds continued commitment to education and to communities. A pillar of the OSM’s mission since 1934, education holds particular significance for Rafael Payare, shaped both by his roots in El Sistema and by his commitment to training emerging Quebec and Canadian musicians. Through masterclasses, collaborations with the conservatory network, the OSM Competition, and the Orchestral Immersion project, supporting the next generation remains fundamental. The same is true for the OSM and Rafael Payare’s commitment to their community. With free or low-cost concerts, school matinees that accommodate over 20,000 young people annually, and large-scale concerts in parks, it is a priority for Payare and the OSM to provide access to the Orchestra for all audiences.

Since assuming his post, Rafael Payare has infused into the OSM an artistic energy fuelled by attentiveness, generosity and a profoundly human approach to music. His conducting, a blend of discipline, adherence to the works and openness, has established a genuine dialogue with the musicians and fostered remarkable cohesion on stage. Every concert becomes a collective experience, driven by his infectious passion and his deep respect for the Orchestra’s identity. The renewal of his tenure embodies a desire to pursue this rare chemistry, which makes the OSM shine brightly far beyond the walls of the Maison symphonique.

— Andrew Wan, OSM Concertmaster