Overview
- The San Francisco Symphony announced the appointment on May 21, 2026, confirming Chan as music director designate and declaring a six-year term that begins with the 2027–28 season.
- Chan’s contract requires her to conduct 10 weeks each season, includes the opening gala, and the orchestra announced near-term guest dates for her on June 5–6, 2026 and Oct. 29–31, 2026 before her official start.
- Born in Hong Kong and trained at Smith College and the University of Michigan, Chan won the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, has led major festivals including the BBC Proms, and held posts at NorrlandsOperan and the Antwerp Symphony.
- Musicians, the search committee and Symphony leaders praised Chan’s rapport and musicianship, while critics and commentators noted her relatively slim recording and tenure record and described the hire as a high-risk, high-reward choice.
- The appointment follows a multi-year search after Esa-Pekka Salonen’s departure and comes as the orchestra addresses a decade-long cumulative budget shortfall and the need to reconnect with Bay Area donors and wider audiences.