The world-renowned artist and UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun is a winner of today’s most prestigious honors, including the Grammy Award, Academy Award, Grawemeyer Award, Bach Prize, Shostakovich Award, Italy’s Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and most recently Istanbul Music Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His music has been played throughout the world by leading orchestras, opera houses, international festivals, and on radio and television. In 2019, he was named as Dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
As a conductor of innovative programs around the world, Tan Dun has led the China tours of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Japan’s NHK Symphony Orchestra. His current season includes appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He is an artistic ambassador of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and serves as the honorary artistic director of the China National Symphony, principal guest conductor at Shenzhen Symphony, and honorary artistic director and chief guest conductor of the Xi´an Symphony Orchestra. He has also led the world’s most esteemed orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Tan Dun’s first Internet Symphony, which was commissioned by Google/YouTube, has reached over 23 million people online. His Organic Music Trilogy of Water, Paper and Ceramic has frequented major concert halls and festivals. Paper Concerto was premiered with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the opening of the Walt Disney Hall. His multimedia work The Map, premiered by YoYo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has toured more than 30 countries worldwide. Its manuscript has been collected by the Carnegie Hall Composers Gallery. His Orchestral Theatre IV: The Gate was premiered by Japan’s NHK Symphony Orchestra and crosses the cultural boundaries of Peking Opera, Western Opera, and puppet theatre traditions. He conducted the premiere of his oratorio epic Buddha Passion at the Dresden Festival with the Münchner Philharmoniker, the piece was co-commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Dresden Festival and has since had premieres worldwide.
Tan Dun records for Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Opus Arte, BIS and Naxos. His recordings have garnered many accolades, including a Grammy Award (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and nominations (The First Emperor; Marco Polo; Pipa Concerto), Japan’s Recording Academy Awards for Best Contemporary Music CD (Water Passion after St. Matthew) and the BBC’s Best Orchestral Album (Death and Fire). His music is published by G. Schirmer, Inc. and represented worldwide by the Music Sales Group of Classical Companies.
Tan Dun will conduct The Orchestra Now on April 18, 2026. He previously conducted the orchestra on May 21, 2023, Nov 11, 2018, and Dec 15, 2019.
Bio: Apr 2026