The Flanders Symphony has gone for youth and nationality with the appointment of its next music director.

28-year old Martijn Dendievel has been appointed music director, after two years as associate conductor and before that as assistant conductor.

Dendievel is Belgian.

He won the 2021 German Conducting Award and the the laureate award at the International Conducting Competition in Rotterdam.

He succeeds the Estonian Kristiina Poska.