Be it Shostakovich, or a new score of, for example, fellow native Dutch composer Michel van der Aa, the chemistry, skill and dynamism with which Otto Tausk leads an ensemble, whether symphony or chamber, is an inspired musical experience. His attention to the score and the energy and charisma with which he conveys this with his musicians is utterly infectious. In September 2011 Otto Tausk was appointed Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre of St. Gallen.

Firmly established in his native Holland, Tausk seasonally conducts many of its principal orchestras; in 2011/12 this will include Residentie Orchestra with soloist Nikolai Lugansky, Nord Nederlands Orchestra with Simone Lamsma, Poulenc's Stabat Mater with Brabants Orchestra and returning to Flanders Philharmonic with Alban Gerhardt at soloist. As Principal Conductor of the Holland Symfonia, Otto Tausk leads a season of concerts, and a new ballet production choreographed by Benjamin Millepied. He will also guest conduct a project with the Nederlands Dans Theater.

2011/12 will see Otto Tausk make his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which will include a world premiere of a work of Georg Friedrich Haas. He returns to the orchestras of St Gallen closing their season as Music Director designate with Christian Poltéra as soloist, to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz with Hyeyoon Park, to Norrköping Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra and to Cologne for a project with MusikFabrik. Further afield and as a regular guest to the southern hemisphere he conducts the Tasmania and Adelaide Symphony orchestras, the latter again joined by Alban Gerhardt as soloist. Otto is also a regular guest with the West Australian Symphony and Auckland Symphony orchestras. 2011 saw the release of Hans Pfitzner's enchanting Orchesterlieder, with Otto Tausk conducting the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie. The recording has garnered considerable international praise, not least the Classica France's "Choc du mois".

Otto Tausk works regularly with leading contemporary ensembles the Nieuw Sinfoinetta Amsterdam and the above mentioned Asko Ensemble. Between 2004 – 2006 Tausk was assistant conductor to Valery Gergiev with the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Aside from Gergiev's mentorship Tausk was invited subsequently to work with the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, as well as the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

In 2011 Otto Tausk was presented with the 'de Olifant' prize by the City of Haarlem. He received this prestigious award for his contribution to the Arts in the Netherlands, in particular his extensive work with Holland Symfonia. The unanimous jury praised the orchestra's innovative and "borderless" programming and commitment to attracting new audiences.

Otto Tausk, born in Utrecht, won various prizes as a young violinist. He studied violin with Viktor Liberman and Istvan Parkanyi as well as orchestral conducting with Jurjen Hempel and Kenneth Montgomery. He continued his studies with Lithuanian conductor and professor Jonas Aleksa at the Vilnius Conservatoire, a period of study that had a profound impact on him. He now enjoys teaching in workshops and masterclasses.