Daniel Reith, Conductor
Daniel Reith is a German conductor whose artistic profile is defined by stylistic versatility, imaginative programming, and strong commitment to education. With a breadth of experience across international stages, he brings together musical excellence, thoughtful leadership, and a deep sensitivity to cultural and social engagement.
From August 2022 to August 2025, he served as Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO). In these roles, he was responsible not only for musical leadership, but also played a key role in shaping the strategic direction and cultural education efforts of both ensembles.
Reith made his acclaimed debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in 2023, stepping in at short notice for Klaus Mäkelä. That same year, he also led the orchestra at the Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival, substituting for Franz Welser-Möst. Further notable appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra followed, including the 2024/25 season-opening gala concert, an “All-Tchaikovsky” program featuring Yuja Wang as soloist, and a complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano concertos and Triple Concerto in November 2024. The latter included collaborations with distinguished soloists such as Yunchan Lim, Stephen Hough, Garrick Ohlson, Minsoo Sohn, Orion Weiss, Augustin Hadelich, and Julia Hagen.
As Music Director of COYO, Reith conducted all concerts and was responsible for artistic planning and musician selection. In his role as Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, he designed and led all family and school concerts and conducted community projects in Cleveland and Miami.
Reith is also an established conductor in Scandinavia and has performed with the Oslo and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestras, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Trondheim Symphony Orchestras, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and Norwegian Armed Forces. Having served as Assistant and second Conductor at the Norwegian Opera for a production of Orpheus in the Underworld, Reith returned to Oslo last season for a symphonic concert with the Norwegian Opera Orchestra, conducting Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra.
Well versed in a wide range of repertoire, Reith has a special interest in the German repertoire, including the classical core repertoire and more particularly works from the late romantic period. He is strongly dedicated to reviving unknown music from this time and sharing it with today’s audiences.
Reith is a winner of the prestigious Opptakt competition, Talent Norway’s program for fostering young conductors, as well as one of their former conducting program participants. He holds degrees in conducting, piano and music theory from the Norwegian Academy of Music, Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt and Hochschule für Musik Freiburg.
