Manfred Honeck

Manfred Honeck (born 17 September 1958, in Nenzing) is an Austrian conductor. He is currently music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,

Honeck was born in Nenzing, Austria, near the border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, one of nine children of Otto and Frieda Honeck. One of his brothers is the Vienna Philharmonic concertmaster Rainer Honeck (born 1961). Beginning as a violinist, Honeck received his musical training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and later played the viola. He subsequently played in the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Orchestra. His early work as a conductor included a period as assistant to Claudio Abbado with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (Youth Orchestra). In 1987, Honeck founded the Vienna Jeunesse Orchestra.

Following his work with the Mahler Jugendorchester, Honeck conducted regularly at the Zurich Opera House from 1991 to 1996. In 1993, while conducting at the Zurich Opera House, he was awarded the European Conductor's Award. From 1997 to 1998, he was music director of the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo, and held a regular position from 1996 to 1999 with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1998, he was named the principal guest conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic.

From 2000 to 2006, Honeck was music director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.