Who Is Elim Chan? San Francisco Symphony Appoints Its First Female Music Director Since Its Founding

KTSF reporter Carmen Lee speaks with Hong Kong-born Chinese conductor Elim Chan to learn more about her musical journey from Hong Kong to the international stage, and how she is preparing to lead the San Francisco Symphony into a new era.

The San Francisco Symphony recently announced the appointment of Hong Kong-born Chinese conductor Elim Chan as its next Music Director. The appointment carries major historical significance: Chan will become the first female Music Director in the San Francisco Symphony’s 115-year history, as well as the orchestra’s 13th Music Director. She has already been named Music Director Designate and will officially begin her tenure in the 2027–28 season, with an initial term of six years.

For the Bay Area’s Chinese community, Chan’s appointment is more than a personnel change in the classical music world. It is a culturally meaningful moment. Born in Hong Kong, educated in the United States, and with a career spanning major stages in Europe and North America, Chan is now set to lead one of the most prominent symphony orchestras in the United States. Her story also allows more Chinese and Asian audiences to see diversity, breakthroughs, and new possibilities on the classical music stage.

From Hong Kong to the International Stage: Elim Chan’s Musical Beginnings

Elim Chan was born and raised in Hong Kong. She was exposed to music from an early age, studying cello and piano and participating in choir. These early musical experiences gradually shaped her sensitivity to sound, orchestral structure, and collective performance.

To many people, conducting is a highly specialized profession, and even one surrounded by a sense of mystery. The conductor standing in front of an orchestra is not merely someone who keeps time. A conductor is an artistic leader responsible for understanding the score, organizing sound, guiding musicians, and shaping the overall musical direction. For Chan, conducting is not only a technique, but also a way to build connections with musicians, musical works, and audiences.

Chan later pursued further studies in the United States, attending Smith College and the University of Michigan. According to the Associated Press, Chan is 39 years old, was born in Hong Kong, and received her musical education at Smith College and the University of Michigan.

A Major Breakthrough in 2014: First Female Winner of the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition

Chan’s international career reached a turning point in 2014, when she won the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, becoming the first woman to win the competition. That achievement brought her greater international attention and opened an important connection with the British music scene.

She later served as Assistant Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and went on to receive invitations to work with major orchestras across Europe and North America. Her conducting style has often been described as precise, direct, and energetic, while also showing a strong ability to build rapport with musicians.

Before being named Music Director Designate of the San Francisco Symphony, Chan served as Chief Conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Belgium and Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Her résumé shows that she is not only a “new generation” conductor, but also a musician who has already accumulated substantial leadership experience on the international stage.

The First Female Music Director: A New Symbol for the Classical Music World

Throughout the history of classical music, the role of Music Director at leading symphony orchestras has long been dominated by men. Chan’s appointment as the San Francisco Symphony’s first female Music Director therefore carries special symbolic meaning.

This is not merely about the title of “first woman.” It also represents the growing presence of musicians from more diverse backgrounds in leadership positions within classical music. For young female musicians, Asian musicians, and artists from immigrant or cross-cultural backgrounds, Chan’s story offers a concrete and visible example.

Her appointment also invites broader discussion about how a 21st-century symphony orchestra should connect with its city. How can classical music move beyond the traditional concert hall and reach more communities, younger audiences, and more diverse cultural groups?

A Connection with San Francisco: More Than Taking Office, but Building a New Relationship with the City

San Francisco is a highly diverse city, and the Bay Area is home to large Asian and Chinese communities. For Chan, her new role with the San Francisco Symphony is not only an artistic position, but also a commitment to the city and its communities.

According to media reports, Chan will officially begin her tenure as Music Director in September 2027. Before then, she will work with the orchestra and the community in her capacity as Music Director Designate to build a closer relationship.

For Bay Area audiences, this transition period will also be an important opportunity to get to know Chan. How will she interpret classical masterpieces? How will she introduce contemporary works? How will she attract audiences of different ages into the concert hall? These questions will become key points of public interest.

Appearing on the San Francisco Stage in June: Elim Chan Conducts La Mer

Before officially taking on the role of Music Director, Bay Area audiences will have a chance to experience Chan’s conducting in person. The San Francisco Symphony will present Elim Chan Conducts La Mer on June 5 and 6, 2026, with Chan leading the orchestra in a program inspired by literature, love, and nature.

The concert program includes Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été, Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, and Debussy’s landmark work La Mer. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke will also perform. Tickets are now available through the San Francisco Symphony’s official website.

For audiences who want to better understand Elim Chan’s musical style, this performance is more than a classical concert. It may also be an important moment to witness the beginning of a new chapter for the San Francisco Symphony.