Meet 2025-26 Conducting Fellow Gerald Karni

Born in 1996, Gerald Karni  is an internationally acclaimed conductor and violist who has led performances at the Elbphilharmonie; with Lucerne Symphony,  Belgrade Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic Ensemble and will debut this season with the Nurnberger Symphoniker. A three-time Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award recipient, Karni studied conducting at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana and viola at Zurich University of the Arts. He founded Zurich’s Side-by-Side Project and is a longtime member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim. Karni resides in Stockholm and continues to work with major orchestras across Europe and the United States.

 

What excites you most about joining the San Diego Symphony’s Conducting Fellowship? 

“I’m most excited for the opportunity to deepen my connection with this remarkable orchestra. I feel truly inspired by the chance to work closely with Music Director Rafael Payare, whose artistry and vision I admire, as well as to collaborate with the orchestra's outstanding guest conductors, soloists, and artistic team.

I look forward to reuniting with familiar faces and building new artistic relationships within both the orchestra and San Diego’s vibrant musical community. I’m particularly thrilled about my upcoming concert this spring, when I will have the privilege of conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony — a work that continues to amaze me every time I return to it.

It is an honor to be part of such an exceptional organization and I’m eager for the artistic discoveries and growth this season will bring!”

 

Having founded initiatives like Zurich’s Side-by-Side Project, how do you see mentorship and collaboration fitting into your growth here?

Mentorship has been central to my development—from my formative years with Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to my experiences at the Verbier Festival—this fellowship offers the next essential chapter.

I hope to learn not only from Rafael Payare and the guest conductors, but also from the musicians, the education team, and the staff who shape the orchestra’s artistic vision.

Collaboration is equally important to me: whether working with young musicians, engaging with audiences, or building artistic partnerships. I see this fellowship as a place where I can continue growing both as a mentee and as someone who supports the next generation, carrying forward the values of openness, dialogue, and shared music-making.

 

You’ve performed around the world as both a violist and conductor—what aspects of this fellowship are most meaningful to your artistic journey?

As someone who came to conducting through the orchestra, the most meaningful part of this fellowship is the chance to work regularly with a single ensemble over time. 

My background as a violist taught me the power of listening—to colleagues, to the room, to the energy between musicians. This fellowship continues that path, allowing me to refine my ear, deepen my musical relationships, and grow in an environment that encourages exploration and sensitivity.

 

When you’re not at Jacobs Music Center, what do you like to do in San Diego?

I love exploring San Diego’s food scene! I’m a total sushi freak, and Sushi Ota near Pacific Beach is world-class. For pizza, I head to Little Italy. And for tacos, El Gordo downtown is unbeatable.