A prizewinner of the prestigious International Malko Conducting Competition, Tong Chen has quickly emerged as one of her generation’s most dynamic and inspiring conductors. Known for her expressive musicality and commanding presence on the podium, she continues to build an impressive international career marked by artistry, versatility, and collaboration.
Recent highlights include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A proud participant in the 2022 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, Ms. Chen served as Assistant Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony from 2021–23, working closely with Music Director Xian Zhang. During her tenure, she made her subscription debut leading the world premiere of Fantasia on Sae Taryeong at the orchestra’s Lunar New Year Concert and conducted numerous education concerts across New Jersey.
On the international stage, Tong Chen has led performances with orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Mikkelin Kaupunginorkesteri, Besançon Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Lexington Philharmonic, and Richmond Symphony. In 2015, she made her Lincoln Center debut with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Her artistic collaborations include work with Gustavo Dudamel, Ivan Fischer, and Gianandrea Noseda, with whom she serves as a regular cover conductor at the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Born in Shanghai, Ms. Chen began her professional career at age nineteen as Assistant Conductor of the Shanghai Opera House, later becoming a regular guest with leading Chinese ensembles such as the Shanghai Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Qingdao Symphony, and Xiamen Philharmonic.
As the founder of the contemporary music initiative NOW!, Chen champions innovative collaborations and new works that bridge cultures and genres. Recent premieres under her baton include Allen Shawn’s Concerto for Clarinet and Cello (commissioned by Benny Goodman), Ellis Marsalis’s The Fourth Autumn (arr. Hannah Yim), Viet Cuong’s Thu Diếu, Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie Suite, and the U.S. premiere of Grammy Award winner Samuel Torres’s Regreso.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Ms. Chen led the orchestral program at the Copland School of Music from 2012–2018, and she continues to guest conduct at the Manhattan School of Music and lecture at the Shanghai Conservatory. A protégé of Kurt Masur, she was awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 2012, serving as his assistant at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. She holds a Master of Arts in Conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Gustav Meier, and has trained at the Aspen and Cabrillo Music Festivals under David Zinman and Marin Alsop.
Ms. Chen’s work reflects a global vision—rooted in tradition, inspired by innovation, and devoted to connecting audiences and musicians through the power of live performance.
A prizewinner of the prestigious International Malko Conducting Competition, Tong Chen has quickly emerged as one of her generation’s most dynamic and inspiring conductors. Known for her expressive musicality and commanding presence on the podium, she continues to build an impressive international career marked by artistry, versatility, and collaboration.
Recent highlights include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A proud participant in the 2022 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, Ms. Chen served as Assistant Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony from 2021–23, working closely with Music Director Xian Zhang. During her tenure, she made her subscription debut leading the world premiere of Fantasia on Sae Taryeong at the orchestra’s Lunar New Year Concert and conducted numerous education concerts across New Jersey.
On the international stage, Tong Chen has led performances with orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Mikkelin Kaupunginorkesteri, Besançon Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Lexington Philharmonic, and Richmond Symphony. In 2015, she made her Lincoln Center debut with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Her artistic collaborations include work with Gustavo Dudamel, Ivan Fischer, and Gianandrea Noseda, with whom she serves as a regular cover conductor at the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Born in Shanghai, Ms. Chen began her professional career at age nineteen as Assistant Conductor of the Shanghai Opera House, later becoming a regular guest with leading Chinese ensembles such as the Shanghai Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Qingdao Symphony, and Xiamen Philharmonic.
As the founder of the contemporary music initiative NOW!, Chen champions innovative collaborations and new works that bridge cultures and genres. Recent premieres under her baton include Allen Shawn’s Concerto for Clarinet and Cello (commissioned by Benny Goodman), Ellis Marsalis’s The Fourth Autumn (arr. Hannah Yim), Viet Cuong’s Thu Diếu, Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie Suite, and the U.S. premiere of Grammy Award winner Samuel Torres’s Regreso.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Ms. Chen led the orchestral program at the Copland School of Music from 2012–2018, and she continues to guest conduct at the Manhattan School of Music and lecture at the Shanghai Conservatory. A protégé of Kurt Masur, she was awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 2012, serving as his assistant at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. She holds a Master of Arts in Conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Gustav Meier, and has trained at the Aspen and Cabrillo Music Festivals under David Zinman and Marin Alsop.
Ms. Chen’s work reflects a global vision—rooted in tradition, inspired by innovation, and devoted to connecting audiences and musicians through the power of live performance.