Stanley Dodds

»The most beautiful thing in my profession are the concerts.«

His mother was looking for something to occupy her lively little boy and upon hearing about a good violin teacher nearby she sent the four-year-old Stanley to her for lessons. From Adelaide he then went on to the Musikgymnasium in Linz and later studied at Lucerne Conservatory with Gunars Larsens, completing his training with Rainer Sonne in the Karajan Academy before joining the orchestra in 1994.

Whilst still a student Dodds played in the Festival Strings Lucerne and was the orchestra’s co-leader from 1996 to 1999. As a violinist he has won numerous awards and prizes and has extensive experience as both a soloist and chamber-music player. Stanley Dodds, who was involved in various orchestra committees, most recently as media director, was a founding member of the Breuninger Quartet and played with Philharmonic Stradivari Soloists until 2015.

As a conductor he trained with Jorma Panula. He has been principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014 and also conducts several youth and amateur orchestras. In 2018 he rehearsed the BE PHIL Orchestra, in which amateur musicians from 30 countries performed – an education project of the Berliner Philharmoniker. He regularly conducts the Karajan Academy and ensembles with Berlin Philharmonic members.