In a move that caught most by surprise, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra has lost its music director, Thomas Dausgaard.

The 58-year old Danish conductor has stepped down more than a year before the end of his contract.  He made the announcement in an email to the orchestra saying that because of COVID 19, he no longer felt safe.

Dausgaard, who is also chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, began his tenure in Seattle in fall 2019, after several years of guest conducting. He was first appeared with the S.S.O. as guest conductor in 2010 and was appointed principal guest conductor starting with the 2014-15 season.