Violinist and conductor Thomas Zehetmair has renewed his contract as music director of the Northern Sinfonia until August 2014.

The Austrian violinist and conductor took up the post with the orchestra, based at the Sage Gateshead, in 2002, and this is the second time he has extended his contract. He now lives nearby, on the Northumbrian coast.

“This is just as exciting as it was at the beginning in 2002. My time with Northern Sinfonia has been a joyous journey, developing together. The journey is not finished and I am thrilled that we now have the opportunity to go even further together,” said Zehetmair.

As well as his conducting and soloist career, Zehetmair also plays with the quartet he founded and which bears his name, and which won the 2003 Gramophone Recording of the Year with a disc of Schumann Quartets on the ECM label.

According to the orchestra, ticket sales for Northern Sinfonia concerts conducted by Zehetmair are 20 per cent higher than for those conducted by other people.