Paul-Boris Kertsman is a conductor and pianist based in Europe, acclaimed for his incisive musical instincts and commitment to collaborative performance. He is equally at home on the operatic and symphonic podium.

Kertsman currently serves as Head of Music and Conductor at the Luzerner Theater, where his current season include conducting Die Zauberflöte, La Tragédie de Carmen, L’elisir d’amore, and operetta programs.

In the 2025/2026 season he returns twice to the Musikkollegium Winterthur, conducting Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, and works by Richard Strauss, Max Reger and others. He also is making his Debut with the Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg and Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich.

A winner of the Aspen Prize, Kertsman also returned as Assistant Conductor of the Aspen Music Festival & School, where he worked alongside internationally renowned artists. His festival engagements included conducting chamber and orchestral works featuring soloists Gil Shaham and Pekka Kuusisto in programs presenting Avner Dorman and Nico Muhly, underscoring his versatility across contemporary music. 

Previously, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Musikkollegium Winterthur, working closely with Music Director Roberto González-Monjas across subscription, educational, and community concerts.

Other highlights include conducting Mozart‘s Idomeneo (directed by Michael Sturminger), and making his public conducting debut at the Musikverein Vienna with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra. He led the Vienna Philharmonic Prokopp Academy in six performances of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail and has collaborated with the WDR Rundfunkchor.  

Born in New York City and raised between Chicago and Vienna, Kertsman began his musical training as a pianist at the Haydn Conservatory in Eisenstadt, and later completed conducting studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.