For the first time, a woman will lead the San Francisco Symphony

Key Points:

• Elim Chan has been named the next music director of the San Francisco Symphony, becoming the first woman to lead the orchestra in its 115-year history and only the third woman to head a top-level American orchestra.
• Chan, 39, will begin a six-year contract in September 2027, succeeding Esa-Pekka Salonen, and has already built a strong rapport with the orchestra through several guest appearances since her 2023 debut.
• The Hong Kong-born conductor is known for her original ideas and passionate approach, and she plans to bring long-term stability and a singular artistic vision to the Symphony, emphasizing storytelling and emotional connection in her conducting.
• Chan has overcome gender biases in the male-dominated field of orchestral conducting and values the opportunity to develop a deep relationship with both the orchestra and the San Francisco community, where she intends to eventually reside.
• She has a special affinity for Russian composers and contemporary works, including premieres by American composer Elizabeth Ogonek, and appreciates San Francisco’s cultural diversity and natural surroundings, drawing parallels between the city and her hometown of Hong Kong.