This article lists major events and other topics related to classical music in 2018.
Events 1 January – Barbara Laister-Ebner performs the zither solo in Tales from the Vienna Woods at the 2018 Vienna New Year's Concert, the first female zither player to do so in the history of the concert. Laister-Ebner also performed with the Vienna Philharmonic in the 30 December 2017 and 31 December 2017 performances of the same programme. 2 January – The Paxton Festival announces that Helen Jamieson is to stand down as its artistic director in September 2018. 3 January The Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards announces Igor Levit as the recipient of the 2018 Gilmore Artist Award. The board of the San Antonio Symphony announces the cancellation of the remaining concerts of the orchestra's 2017–2018 season. The Ojai Festival announces the appointment of Matthias Pintscher as the festival's music director for its 2020 season. 5 January – Following her appointment as the new chairwoman of the Symphony Society of San Antonio, Kathleen Weir Vale announces a reversal of the prior 3 January 2018 board decision to suspend the remainder of the orchestra's 2017–2018 season. The previous chair of the organisation, Alice Viroslav, resigned the post on 4 January 2018. 8 January Arts Council England announces the appointment of Claire Mera-Nelson as director of Music and as director in its London office. The La Jolla Chamber Music Society announces the resignation of Kristin Lancino as its president, effective 12 January 2018. A news report the same day stated that Cho-Liang Lin is to stand down as the festival's music director in August 2018. 10 January The Saarland Minister für Bildung und Kultur announces the appointment of Sébastien Rouland as the next Generalmusikdirektor of the Saarländische Staatstheater, effective with the 2018–2019 season. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announces the resignation of Charles Dutoit as its principal conductor and artistic adviser, with immediate effect, following allegations against Dutoit of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Dutoit had previously been scheduled to vacate the posts in 2019. From the Top announces the appointment of Gretchen Nielsen as its first-ever executive director, effective 1 March 2018. 11 January Radio France announces the appointment of Martina Batič as the next music director of the Chœur de Radio France, effective 1 September 2018, with an initial contract of 3 years. Sinfonia Viva announces the appointment of Frank Zielhorst as its new principal conductor, with immediate effect. 12 January The Symphony Society of San Antonio announces a new agreement with the musicians of the San Antonio Symphony, which allows for restoration of most of the orchestra's remaining 2017–2018 season. The Houston Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of John Mangum as its next executive director and chief executive officer, effective 16 April 2018. 15 January – The Cumnock Tryst announces the appointment of Jean Nicholson as its new festival director. 17 January – The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Lahav Shani as its next music director, effective with the 2020–2021 season. 18 January – The Southbank Centre announces that Jude Kelly is to stand down as its artistic director, effective May 2018. 22 January – The Académie des Beaux-Arts announces that Laurent Petitgirard is to conclude his music directorship of the Orchestre Colonne, two years ahead of the original schedule. 23 January The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announces Beat Furrer as the recipient of the 2018 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announces that Robert Spano is to conclude his tenure as its music director at the close of the 2020–2021 season, and subsequently to take the title of conductor laureate. 25 January Creative Scotland announces the newest round of Regular Funding recipients for its next three-year programme, which includes the losses of £300,000 for the Dunedin Consort and of £550,000 for the Hebrides Ensemble. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra announces the naming of Mariss Jansons as an honorary member of the orchestra. The musicians of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra vote to unionise. 26 January – King's College, Cambridge announces that Stephen Cleobury is to retire as its director of music, effective 30 September 2019. 29 January Newspaper accounts report that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation intends to dismantle its sound and reference libraries across Australia, with a single library to be retained in Melbourne. The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Marin Alsop as its next chief conductor, effective 1 September 2019, with an initial contract of 3 years. She is the first female conductor to be named chief conductor of the Vienna RSO. 30 January The Léonie Sonning Music Foundation announces Hans Abrahamsen as the recipient of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2019. The Orchestre de Paris announces that Daniel Harding is to stand down as its principal conductor, following the close of the 2018–2019 season. The Richmond Symphony announces that Steven Smith is to conclude his tenure as its music director, following the close of the 2018–2019 season. 1 February The Buxton Festival announces the appointment of Michael Williams as its next chief executive officer, effective April 2018. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Martyn Brabbins, gives the first performance of the Symphony in B♭ by Michael Tippett since its 1935 premiere. Austin Opera announces the dismissal of Richard Buckley as its artistic director and principal conductor, with immediate effect, after allegations of harassment of an unspecified nature. 6 February – Creative Scotland announces restoration of £300,000 funding for 3 years to the Dunedin Consort. 7 February State Opera of South Australia announces the appointments of Yarmila Alfonzetti as its next executive director, and of Stuart Maunder as its next artistic director. The Brooklyn Academy of Music announces the appointment of David Binder as its next artistic director. 8 February – The La Jolla Music Society announces the appointment of Inon Barnatan as the next music director of its SummerFest programme, effective with the 2019 summer season. 9 February The Symphoniker Hamburg announces the appointment of Sylvain Cambreling as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2018–2019 season. Santa Fe Opera announces the appointments of Robert K. Meya as its next general director and of Alexander Neef as the first-ever artistic director of the company. In addition, Harry Bicket is to be elevated from chief conductor of the company to its music director. All three appointments are scheduled to be effective as of 1 October 2018. 11 February – 50 years after its composition, Richard Reason's Dylan Thomas Song Cycle receives its first performance at Conway Hall. 13 February The Juilliard School announces the appointment of David Robertson as its next director of conducting studies, effective with the 2018–2019 academic year. The San Diego Symphony announces the appointment of Rafael Payare as its next music director, effective 1 July 2019. 14 February – The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Daniel Raiskin as its next music director, effective with the 2018–2019 season. 15 February The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles announces the election of Pierre Coppey as its next president. The Metropolitan Opera announces that Yannick Nézet-Séguin is to take the title of music director as of the 2018–2019 season, two seasons earlier than originally announced. 19 February – National Sawdust announces Kayla Cashetta, Emma O'Halloran, and X. Lee as the first-ever prize winners of its inaugural Hildegard Competition "for emerging women and non-binary composers". 20 February Longborough Festival Opera announces the appointment of Polly Graham, daughter of festival founders Martin and Lizzie Graham, as its new artistic director, with immediate effect. The Juilliard String Quartet announces the appointment of Areta Zhulla as its new first violinist, effective September 2018, replacing Joseph Lin, who is to remain on the Juilliard faculty. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of James M Johnson as its next executive director, effective 30 April 2018. The Omaha Symphony Orchestra announces the resignation of James M Johnson as its executive director, as of the end of April 2018. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra announces the appointment of Jaime Martín its next music director, effective with the 2019–2020 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. 21 February The Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège announces the appointment of Gergely Madaras as its next music director, effective 1 September 2019, with an initial contract of 3 years. G. Schirmer, Inc. announces its acquisition of the worldwide publishing rights to the works of Julius Eastman. 22 February A news report states that Rafael Payare is to stand down as music director of the Ulster Orchestra as of the end of his current contract, at the close of the 2018–2019 season. The Takács Quartet announces the retirement of its violist, Károly Schranz, effective 1 May 2018, and the appointment of Harumi Rhodes as its new violist. 1 March The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra announces that Nicholas Heyward is to stand down as its managing director at the end of the 2017–2018 season. The Dresdner Musikfestspiele announces Joyce DiDonato as the recipient of its annual Prize, for 2018, for her work in music education. 6 March – The Bavarian State Opera announces the appointments of Serge Dorny as its next Intendant, and of Vladimir Jurowski as its next Generalmusikdirektor, effective with the 2021–2022 season. 7 March – The city of Aachen announces the appointment of Christopher Ward as its next Generalmusikdirektor, effective 1 August 2018. 8 March English National Opera announces the appointment of Stuart Murphy as its next chief executive, effective 3 April 2018. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance announces its 'Venus Blazing' programme for the 2018–2019 academic year, with the commitment that music by female composers is to comprise at least 50% of the selections for its public performances. 10 March – Paul Plishka sings his final performance with the Metropolitan Opera, his 1,672nd appearance with the company, prior to his retirement. 12 March – The Metropolitan Opera announces the full termination of its relationship with its former music director, James Levine, after a 3-month investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him. This action includes the rescinding of his title of music director emeritus and dismissal of him as artistic director of its young artists program. 14 March – The Royal Society of Musicians announces the appointment of Charlotte Penton-Smith as its first ever chief executive. 16 March – A news report indicates that Michael Christie is to conclude his tenure as music director of Minnesota Opera at the close of the 2017–2018 season. 20 March – The Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe announces the appointment of Nicole Braunger as its new director of opera (Operdirektorin), the first woman to be named to the post, effective with the 2018–2019 season. 24 March – Glyndebourne announces the prize winners of its inaugural Glyndebourne Opera Cup competition: Overall winner: Samantha Hankey Second place: Jacquelyn Stucker Third place: Elbenita Kajtazi Ginette Theano prize (for most promising talent): Emily Pogorelc Media prize: Samantha Hankey Audience prize: Elbenita Kajtazi 26 March – The Philadelphia Orchestra announces the appointment of Matías Tarnopolsky as its next president and chief executive officer, effective August 2018, with an initial contract of 5 years.