Conductor Manfred Honeck has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him on the podium of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through the 2019-20 season, the orchestra announced today. The Austrian music director was hired in 2008 and in 2009 signed an extension that took him to 2015-16.

“I can’t believe it has already been six years since our first concerts together,” Honeck said in a release.  “Now, in my fourth  year as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony, I feel a great sense of adventure with these musicians. They are fearless and dedicated individuals, and I think that together we are achieving breathtaking performances. So I felt great joy when I was asked, and agreed, to extend my term as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony through 2020.”

At the conclusion of this contract, he will have lead the orchestra in 12 seasons.