Tan Dun
Conductor
UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun has left an enduring impact on the international music landscape with a visionary body of work that bridges classical traditions, multimedia innovation, and the musical heritage of both East and West. His groundbreaking contributions have been recognized with many of the world’s highest honors, including the Grammy Award, Academy Award (Oscar), Grawemeyer Award, Bach Prize, Shostakovich Award, Italy’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and the Istanbul Music Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tan Dun’s music has been performed by leading orchestras, opera houses, and festivals worldwide and has been widely broadcast on radio and television. As dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, he continues to champion music’s transformative power and its deep connection to history, art, and society.
In the 2025/26 season, Tan Dun conducts his epic oratorio Buddha Passion with the Orquesta Nacional de España, following its acclaimed premieres in Dresden, New York, Los Angeles, and Melbourne. He returns to the London Philharmonic Orchestra for performances of his multimedia work Nine Songs of the Changing Moon and leads Tea: A Mirror of Soul at MUPA Budapest. Other highlights include appearances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic for Symphony Under the Stars and a residency at Bard College. He also serves as a jury member and guest conductor for the Mitropoulos Competition, continuing his commitment to mentoring the next generation of artists.
Tan Dun is artistic ambassador of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, honorary artistic director of the China National Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and honorary artistic director and chief guest conductor of the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra. He has previously led the London Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among many others.
His distinctive voice has reached millions through works such as the Internet Symphony (commissioned by Google/YouTube), the Organic Music Trilogy and The Map, premiered by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His Paper Concerto opened Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Orchestral Theatre IV: The Gate premiered with NHK Symphony Orchestra, blending Peking opera, Western opera, and puppet theater.
Tan Dun records for Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Opus Arte, BIS, and Naxos, with accolades including a Grammy Award (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), BBC Best Orchestral Album (Death and Fire), and Japan’s Recording Academy Award (Water Passion after Saint Matthew). His music is published by G. Schirmer, Inc., and represented worldwide by the Music Sales Group of Classical Companies.
February 2026
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
