Toronto Symphony Orchestra Appoints Nicholas Sharma as RBC Resident Conductor & Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor
Toronto-area native returns home to take on dual role of TSO RBC Resident Conductor and TSYO Conductor beginning in the 2025/26 season.
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Music Director Gustavo Gimeno are pleased to announce the appointment of conductor Nicholas Sharma as the TSO’s next RBC Resident Conductor and conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO), beginning in the 2025/26 season.
Sharma was selected following a national search and competitive audition process. He succeeds Trevor Wilson, who has worked with the TSO and TSYO since 2022. Sharma will serve in this dual role for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons.
“Nicholas brings a beautiful naturalness to his conducting—musical, confident, and calm,” says Music Director Gustavo Gimeno. “He has an ease and clarity on the podium that immediately resonates with musicians, along with a thoughtful and engaging presence. I’m delighted to welcome him to the TSO and look forward to collaborating in the seasons ahead.”
As RBC Resident Conductor, Sharma will work closely with Gustavo Gimeno and the TSO’s artistic leadership, supporting a wide range of mainstage programming while developing professionally through direct mentorship and access to rehearsals, performances, and guest conductors. He will conduct select concerts, including Dvořák Symphony No. 7 and The Composer Is Dead, cover rehearsals, and join the orchestra on tours and special projects.
In addition, as TSYO Conductor, Sharma will lead three concerts per season and work alongside TSO coaches and artistic staff to shape the youth orchestra’s programming and educational direction. He will also participate in the annual audition process and Concerto Competition.
A native of the Toronto area, Sharma has led performances with orchestras across North America, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Eugene Symphony. He previously served as Assistant Conductor of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of its youth orchestra. His education includes a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the Eastman School of Music, with earlier degrees from the University of Oregon and in violin performance from Eastman.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and to have the opportunity to work with Maestro Gustavo Gimeno, the incredible TSO musicians, and the talented young artists of the TSYO,” says Sharma. “As a Toronto native, it’s especially meaningful to return to my home city and contribute to its vibrant musical life. The warmth and connection I felt during my audition process left a lasting impression, and I’m honoured to now join this musical family.”
About Nicholas Sharma
Beginning in the 2025/26 season, Nicholas Sharma will join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as the TSO RBC Resident Conductor and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor. He has led performances with orchestras across North America, earning recognition for his versatility and musical artistry.
Recent conducting highlights include début performances with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eugene Symphony, as well as serving as Assistant Conductor of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2024/25 season.
He has participated in master classes and summer festivals with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, working with distinguished conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Stéphane Denève, Neeme Järvi, Robert Spano, Nicholas McGegan, Mark Stringer, and Boris Brott.
A native of the Toronto area, Sharma began his musical studies as a violinist. He holds a degree in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Oleh Krysa, and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Oregon under David Jacobs. In 2024, he completed a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in orchestral conducting at Eastman, studying with Neil Varon. His return to Toronto marks both a personal and professional homecoming as he takes on these new artistic leadership roles.
About the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-wellness, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Symphony With Us at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.
The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO.
The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.
The TSYO Conductor is generously supported by the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee.
The TSO's Education and Community Engagement programs are generously supported by the Barrett Family Foundation.
The RBC Resident Conductor is generously supported by RBC Emerging Artists.
The TSO is grateful for the support of the Toronto Symphony Foundation and all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario.