Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellowship
The “Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellowship” was made possible through a gift by Bernard Haitink’s widow Patricia Haitink and will offer young, highly talented conductors a two-year fellowship with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks beginning with the 2024/25 season under the mentorship of chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle.
Sasha Scolnik-Brower wins first ’Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellowship’ with the BRSO

Sasha Scolnik-Brower and Sir Simon Rattle.
The young American Sasha Scolnik-Brower won the position against numerous candidates. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Dutch National Master’s of Orchestral Conducting, was a conducting fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and was awarded the Robert Spano Conducting Prize. Scolnik-Brower has conducted several renowned ensembles, including the Noord Nederlands Orkest, Orchestre de Paris, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera, London Symphony Orchestra, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, and has served as assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Sasha Scolnik-Brower began his fellowship with the BRSO with the St Matthew Passion at the start of the 2024/25 season as assistant to Sir Simon Rattle and had already gained impressions during the orchestra’s previous summer festival tour. Over the course of the next two seasons, the 29-year-old will assist both the chief conductor and a number of Guest conductors, accompany the BRSO on tour in Asia and also conduct concerts himself.
Bernard Haitink was a great supporter and teacher of young conductors during his lifetime. His widow Patricia Haitink is continuing her husband’s legacy with the generously endowed “Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellowship” in partnership with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
The BRSO and its chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle are grateful for this scholarship and look forward – in memory of Bernard Haitink – to working more closely with young conductors in the future, offering them a platform and thus supporting them.
“Nearly 50 years ago I had the privilege to work with Bernard Haitink in Glyndebourne as both rehearsal pianist and colleague. His warmth and generosity have stayed with me all of these years, as well as his empathy and encouragement when times were hard. A great conductor of course, but a great mensch in addition. I hope to be able to pass on a little of his wisdom to the next generation in turn, and we are profoundly grateful for Patricia’s gift in her husband’s memory which makes this a possibility. We hope we can do him proud!“
Sir Simon Rattle, chief conductor of the BRSO
“It is an honour and a pleasure that we at the BRSO can now offer the ’Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellowship’. We share memories of many wonderful concert experiences with Bernard Haitink. It is great that he will continue to help shape the future in a special way. Our great thanks go to Patricia Haitink, without whose generous financial support this programme would not have been possible. We will do everything we can to offer the Bernard Haitink Fellows an environment that is not only inspiring, but also valuable for their future careers.“
Nikolaus Pont, manager of the BRSO
Concerts in 2024/25 with Sasha Scolnik-Brower as conductor
25. January 2025: family concert
28. February 2025: school concert
Concert projects in 2024/25 with Sasha Scolnik-Brower as assistant
November 1 / 3, 2024: Sir Simon Rattle | “Tristan und Isolde”, 2nd act
November 7 / 8, 2024: Sir Simon Rattle | Mahler 7
November 14 / 15, 2024: Sir Simon Rattle | Bruckner 9
November 20 – December 5, 2024: Asia tour with Sir Simon Rattle
February 6 / 7, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Mozart Symphonies No. 39, 40 and 41
February 13 / 14, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Brahms Requiem
February 15, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Brahms Requiem (Vienna)
February 16, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Mozart Symphonies No. 39, 40 and 41 (Vienna)
February 27 / 28, March 1, 2025: Gianandrea Noseda & Beatrice Rana
March 6 / 7, 2025: Daniel Harding | Mahler “Das Lied von der Erde”
March 22, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Boulez, Berio, Lachenmann (musica viva)
May 15 / 16, 2025: Simone Young | Zemlinsky
May 29 / 30, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Ravel
June 1, 2025: Sir Simon Rattle | Ravel (Hamburg)
June 5 / 6, 2025: Alan Gilbert & Alisa Weilerstein
June 19, 20 and 21, 2025: Esa-Pekka Salonen & Igor Levit
July 12, 2025: Klassik am Odeonsplatz