TONG CHEN｜CONDUCTOR
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"Masterfully presented the Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony," described the Leipzig Time. A prizewinner of the prestigious International Malko Conducting Competition, Tong Chen has quickly established herself as one of the most promising and exciting young conductors in her generation. In 2020/21, Chen made her debut with the Lousianna Philharmonic, including a world premiered music by Ellis Marsalis, "The Fourth Autumn," arranged by Hannah Yim. 2019-2020 season's highlight includes Tong's debuts with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic, and Rutgers Symphony Orchestra features a program includes world premier of Shawn’s concerto for Clarient and Cello, one of the last commission piece by Benny Goodman and return to Los Angeles Philharmonic working with Gustavo Dudamel and assisting Iván Fisher with Budapest Festival Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. Tong has worked with numerous orchestras across the globe, including Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo; Mikkelin Kaupunginorkesteri; Besançon Symphony Orchestra; Leipzig Symphony Orchestra; Alabama Symphony Orchestra; Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, she made her Lincoln Center debut at David H. Koch Theater with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Orchestra of St. Luke's. Tong, born in Shanghai, China, is a regular guest conductor for orchestras across China, including Shanghai Philharmonic, Xia Men Philharmonic, Qing Dao Symphony Orchestra, Guang Zhou Symphony Orchestra, and Shanghai Opera House which she worked as the assistant conductor from 2004-2009. Tong Chen, a protégé of former New York Philharmonic Music Director Kurt Masur, received the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 2012, a program to study Mendelssohn's music and serve as the assistant conductor for Masur with Gewandhaus Leipzig. Tong has participated in the Aspen Music Festival and Cabrillo Festival, studying with David Zinman and Marin Alsop. Her primary studies were with Gustav Meier at Peabody Conservatory, where he received master's degrees in conducting, with Maurice Peress at Copland School of Music and Shanghai Conservatory. This season marks her 6th anniversary as music director of the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra. She believes that music is a solid connection to bring the people and the community together. In her first year as the music director of YPO, she introduced Beethoven Festival, which sold out five years in a role. Due to a global pandemic in the 2020-2021 season, she created YPO@home, an online streaming music program to bring music into the community. Tong also started an online rehearsal and education program for local musicians and music students. As an avid advocate of education, Chen taught orchestral conducting and led the orchestra program at Copland School of Music from 2012-2018. Summer 2019 marked her second year as the director of Queens College Conductor's workshop, founded by Maurice Peress in 2010. Additionally, Tong is a regular guest conductor at Manhattan School of Music, Montclair State University, Manners Pre-college orchestra, and All-State Youth Orchestras in the New York State area and a guest lecturer at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Currently, Tong lives in New York City with family, and a dog name Kimi the boss. |
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