Noord Nederlands Orkest


Het Noord Nederlands Orkest is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Groningen. The NNO performs at De Oosterpoort in Groningen and also on a regular basis at these venues in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe:
The historical roots of the NNO date back to 1862, when the Orkest der Vereeniging De Harmonie was established in Groningen. This orchestra attained independent status in 1926 under the name Groninger Orkest Vereeniging, which was further renamed the Noordelijk Filharmonisch Orkest in 1962. In 1989, the NFO was merged with a second orchestra, the Frysk Orkest, to establish the NNO in its present form.
The first chief conductor of the NNO was Jacek Kaspszyk, from 1991 to 1995. Subsequent chief conductors included Hans Drewanz and Viktor Liberman. Alexander Vedernikov held the title of principal guest conductor from 2001 to 2003. Michel Tabachnik was chief conductor from 2005 to 2011, and now has the title of conductor laureate. In March 2011, the NNO announced the appointment of Stefan Asbury as its next chief conductor, as of the 2011-2012 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.
The orchestra's current managing director is Ingeborg Walinga, who was named to the post in March 2011 and formally assumed the title on 1 June 2011. The NNO has made commercial recordings for such labels as Donemus and MuziekGroep Nederland, including music of Dutch composers such as Jacob van Domselaer and Jacob ter Veldhuis.

Chief Conductors