San Francisco, 22 May 2026 – Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan has been appointed as the next music director of the San Francisco Symphony, becoming the first woman to lead the orchestra in its 115-year history and marking a major milestone for Asian representation in classical music.
The San Francisco Symphony announced on 21 May that Chan will officially begin her tenure in September 2027 under an initial six-year term. She will serve as music director designate before taking up the full role, succeeding Esa-Pekka Salonen after a two-year search by the institution.
At 39, Chan’s appointment places her among the most closely watched conductors in the international classical music world. Her rise has been shaped by a combination of technical command, expressive energy and an ability to connect with musicians across leading orchestras in the United States and Europe. She will become the San Francisco Symphony’s 13th music director.
Chan is also set to become the first woman to lead one of the so-called “Big 7” American orchestras, a group generally associated with major ensembles in New York, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Her appointment therefore carries significance beyond San Francisco, reflecting a wider shift in a field historically dominated by male conductors.
Born in Hong Kong, Chan studied at Smith College in Massachusetts before completing graduate studies at the University of Michigan. In 2014, she became the first woman to win the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, a breakthrough that helped establish her profile in the global conducting scene.
Her previous leadership roles include serving as principal conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra from 2019 to 2024 and principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra from 2018 to 2023. She has also been appointed artistic partner of the Vienna Symphony for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, further strengthening her European profile before she begins her San Francisco role.
Chan made her San Francisco Symphony debut in 2023 at Davies Symphony Hall and has since returned multiple times. Her guest appearances helped build confidence among the orchestra’s musicians, audiences and leadership, positioning her as a compelling choice for the next era of the institution.
The appointment comes at an important transition point for the San Francisco Symphony. The orchestra is moving beyond the tenure of Salonen, who stepped down following reported differences with the board over the institution’s direction and financial pressures. Chan’s appointment gives the Symphony a younger, internationally recognised conductor who may help reshape its artistic identity and audience engagement strategy.
For Hong Kong and Asia’s arts community, Chan’s rise is especially meaningful. Her appointment shows how Asian musicians and conductors are increasingly influencing the leadership of major Western cultural institutions, not only as performers but as artistic decision-makers with long-term institutional authority.
The Ledger Asia Insights
Elim Chan’s appointment is more than a classical music milestone. It reflects a broader cultural shift in global arts leadership, where Asian talent is moving into historically exclusive roles at major institutions.
For Asian audiences, Chan’s rise offers a powerful signal that representation in the performing arts is expanding at the highest levels. Her appointment also strengthens Hong Kong’s visibility in the global classical music ecosystem, particularly at a time when cultural soft power, education and international mobility remain important themes across Asia.
The challenge ahead will be execution. Leading a major American orchestra requires more than artistic excellence; it also demands audience development, donor engagement, institutional diplomacy and long-term programming vision. If Chan succeeds, her San Francisco tenure could become a defining chapter not only for the Symphony, but for the next generation of Asian conductors and women in classical music.
