In 2000, Swensen was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
[8][9] Swensen currently holds the post of Conductor Emeritus of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra,[10] where he was Principal Conductor from 1996–2005 during which time Swensen and the orchestra followed a regular concert schedule in Scotland[11] and toured extensively in the UK,[12] Europe, US, and the Far East.
[13] From 2006–2011, he was music director with Malmő Opera and is guest conductor for a number of UK,[14] European[15] and American orchestras.
[16] Succeeding Paul Daniel, Joseph Swensen was appointed musical director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine (ONBA) in May 2023 as of the 2024–2025 season.
[19] At the Habitat4Music Centre in Vermont Swensen held "Total Immersion" courses in important composers for professional musicians and conductors.