Cover Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: Instagram/@itselimchan)
Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: Instagram/@itselimchan)
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Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan made history as the first woman to become San Francisco Symphony’s music director
Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan made international headlines this month following her historic appointment as the music director of the San Francisco Symphony. Officially stepping into the role for the 2027-28 season—and serving as the music director designate before then—Chan stands as a proud testament to Asia’s world-class musical talent and cements her legacy as the first female music director in the symphony’s illustrious 115-year history.
Prior to this monumental appointment, Chan had already forged a formidable global reputation, having served as the principal conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and the principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Ahead of her highly anticipated collaboration with the New York Philharmonic tomorrow (May 27), Tatler highlights five things to know about the industry’s brightest rising star.
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1. A historic first
Above Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
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Elim Chan is the first female music director in the 115-year history of the San Francisco Symphony. She will officially begin her six-year term starting from the 2027-28 season.
The San Francisco Symphony is renowned for its progressive programming, championship of contemporary American music and groundbreaking multimedia educational projects. Its last music director was Esa-Pekka Salonen, who stepped down at the end of his contract in 2025.
2. The pride of Hong Kong
Above Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
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Born in Hong Kong to non-musical parents—an artist-teacher father and a civil servant mother—Elim Chan was initially encouraged to pursue a conventional career. Aware of the hardships in creative fields, her father warned her to commit entirely or not at all. Despite initial financial concerns, her parents remained deeply supportive, later relocating to London. Chan initially pursued her higher education in the United States, studying at Smith College in Massachusetts before continuing her advanced musical training at the University of Michigan, laying the groundwork for her historic conducting career.
3. A rising conductor
Above The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Elim Chan at the Barbican Hall on February 8, 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Mark Allan)
The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Elim Chan at the Barbican Hall on February 8, 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Mark Allan)
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In 2014, at the age of 28, she became the first female winner of the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, an international music competition for young conductors, held biennially in London.
4. An impressive CV
Above Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: Instagram/@itselimchan)
Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: Instagram/@itselimchan)
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Prior to San Francisco Symphony’s appointment, she had already worked with a slew of prestigious orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
5. More to come
Above Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
Elim Chan, Hong Kong-born conductor who has been appointed as San Francisco Symphony’s next music director (Photo: courtesy of Elim Chan and Simon Pauly)
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One can already expect exciting projects from Chan. She is recently appointed artistic partner with the prestigious Wiener Symphoniker for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons.
She will also be conducting the New York Philharmonic for four concerts from May 27 to 30, 2026.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
