FAYÇAL KAROUI
Music Director

Photo © Paul Kolnik

Fayçal Karoui is one of France’s leading young conductors. He was a prize winner at the 1991 Besançon International Young Conductors Competition, and in 1997 he received first prize in conducting at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris. He was later granted the Aïda scholarship, which afforded him the opportunity to work with Michel Plasson and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. In June 1998, Mr. Karoui accepted a position as Mr. Plasson’s assistant.

In 2001, Mr. Karoui was appointed Music Director of the Orchestra Philharmonique de Pau at the age of 30. He has conducted such prestigious orchestras as the Orchestra de Paris, the Orchestra de l’Opéra National de Paris, the Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Orchestra National de Lille, and the Orchestra National de Monte-Carlo.

Mr. Karoui was invited to conduct Jean-Claude Casadesus’ Orchestre National de Lille in 2000 and the 2001-2002 season. He has also conducted such varied orchestras as Aix-en-Provence Chamber Orchestra, The Young French Artists’ Orchestra, the Académie de Saint-Louis en l’Ile Orchestra in Paris, and the Orchestre de Picardie and the Orchestre National de Montpellier.

In July 2006 Mr. Karoui was selected to become New York City Ballet’s fifth Music Director. He began his tenure with the Company on December 1, 2006.