Elim Chan Named First Woman to Lead a Big 7 US Orchestra
Elim Chan has been named the new music director of the San Francisco Symphony, marking her as the first female conductor to head one of the 'Big 7' orchestras in the United States. The 39-year-old, originally from Hong Kong, has entered into a six-year agreement, which was revealed on Thursday. She takes over from Michael Tilson Thomas, who passed away this month, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, who resigned in 2024. Chan made her debut with the San Francisco Symphony in 2023 and is set to lead performances of Berlioz, Debussy, and Wagner at Davies Symphony Hall on June 5 and 6, 2025. In 2014, she became the first woman to win the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition and aims for equal recognition alongside her male peers.
Key facts
- Elim Chan appointed music director of San Francisco Symphony
- First woman to lead a 'Big 7' US orchestra (New York, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia)
- Six-year contract announced Thursday
- Chan is 39 years old, born in Hong Kong
- Currently principal conductor of Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
- Succeeds Michael Tilson Thomas (died 2025) and Esa-Pekka Salonen (stepped down 2024)
- Debuted with San Francisco Symphony in 2023
- First full season as music director begins in 2027
Entities
Artists
- Elim Chan
- Michael Tilson Thomas
- Esa-Pekka Salonen
- Gustavo Dudamel
- Leila Josefowicz
Institutions
- San Francisco Symphony
- Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- New York Philharmonic
- Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Cleveland Orchestra
- Philadelphia Orchestra
- San Francisco Chronicle
- San Francisco Classical Voice
- The Guardian
- New York Times
- Donatella Flick Conducting Competition
Locations
- San Francisco
- United States
- Hong Kong
- Belgium
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Boston
- Cleveland
- Philadelphia
- Davies Symphony Hall
- Bay Area