Jessica Cottis Named Assistant Conductor of Sydney Symphony

Conductor Jessica Cottis, 32, has been appointed as a new assistant conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Australian-British conductor will assist and act as cover conductor for Vladimir Ashkenazy, the chief conductor of the famed orchestra with Sydney Opera House as its home concert hall.

"I am thrilled to accept the post of Sydney Symphony Assistant Conductor," said Cottis upon her appointment.

"I have incredibly formative memories of hearing the orchestra in my teens. After over a decade abroad, I'm delighted and honored to come back home to work with these wonderful musicians."

Cottis continued, "I look forward to working closely with the orchestra over the next two years and am particularly excited to work with Vladimir Ashkenazy and also with newly commissioned Australian composers. This position will offer me a wonderful opportunity to develop my conducting career and I am looking forward to it immensely."

Cottis studied organ, piano and musicology, and law before turning to conducting studies at theRoyal Academy of Music in London in 2006. After graduating from RAM in 2009, she became the first Postgraduate Conducting Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and was appointed assistant conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Cottis replaces Australian conductor Nicholas Carter, who was in the position since 2009.