Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan becomes first woman to lead San Francisco Symphony
Rising maestro emerged as a surprise choice and will begin her six-year term at the famed orchestra in September 2027
Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan has been named music director designate of the San Francisco Symphony, capping months of intense industry speculation over her next permanent posting.
The orchestra announced on May 21 that Chan will officially begin her tenure in September 2027. She will serve an initial six-year term, becoming the first woman and 13th music director in the institution’s 115-year history.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for the conductor and places one of Hong Kong’s most famous classical music exports at the helm of a premier cultural institution in the United States.
“The San Francisco Symphony is one of the truly great orchestras of the world, and I am honoured to take the podium as its next Music Director,” Chan said in the press release. “The Bay Area has long been the place where the future gets invented. This orchestra carries that same restless, forward-looking energy in everything it does. […] I also look forward immensely to interacting with the San Francisco Symphony’s audiences and my new community as we begin this exciting journey together”.