Overview
Biography
Mei-Ann Chen (simplified Chinese: 陈美安; traditional Chinese: 陳美安; pinyin: Chén Měi-ān; born 1973) is a Taiwanese American conductor. She is currently music director of the Chicago Sinfonietta and conductor laureate of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
An innovative and passionate force both on and off the conductor’s podium, Mei-Ann Chen is one of America’s most dynamic young conductors. Named one of Musical America’s 2015 Top 30 Influencers, Ms. Chen has served as Music Director of the Memphis Symphony since 2010 and the Chicago Sinfonietta since 2011. She has infused both orchestras with energy, enthusiasm and high-level music-making, galvanizing their audiences and communities alike. A sought-after guest conductor, Ms. Chen’s reputation as a compelling communicator has resulted in growing popularity with orchestras both nationally and internationally.
Following a successful six seasons as Music Director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Chen concludes her tenure with the orchestra at the end of this season. In recognition of her accomplishments, the orchestra is bestowing upon her the title Conductor Laureate. This coming summer, Mei-Ann Chen takes on the post of Artistic Director and Conductor for the 2016 National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Summer Youth Orchestra Festival.
Following fall appearances with the Memphis Symphony and Chicago Sinfonietta, Ms. Chen’s winter/spring 2015-16 season features concerts throughout North America, and in Germany and Taiwan. Guest engagements include a return to the San Francisco Symphony to lead its annual Chinese New Year Concert, engagements with Götesborgs Symfoniker, Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Grand Rapids, Tucson, and Toledo symphonies, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and her debuts with the Santa Barbara and Winnipeg symphonies.
Recent performance highlights include leading Germany’s Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, Taiwan’s National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony’s renowned Chinese New Year celebration, and the Netherlands Philharmonic at the Concertgebouw. Among her recent debuts are Sweden’s Göteborgs Symfoniker, Canada’s Calgary Philharmonic, Brazil’s Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony on its subscription series, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony (where she stepped in on short notice and was immediately re-engaged), Indianapolis Symphony (as a last-minute step-in engagement) and San Diego Symphony, as well as engagements abroad with Austria’s Gross Orchester Graz, Brazil’s São Paulo Symphony, Denmark’s National Symphony Orchestra, Finland’s Tampere Philharmonic, Norway's Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Sweden’s NorrlandsOperan (Norrland's Opera). Among her many North American guesting credits are appearances with the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Colorado, Columbus, Florida, Fort Worth, Grand Rapids, Nashville, North Carolina, Oregon, Pacific, Phoenix, Seattle, Toronto, Tucson, Vancouver, and the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. Overseas guesting credits include the principal Danish orchestras, the BBC Scottish Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and the Trondheim Symphony. U.S. summer music festivals credits include the Aspen Music Festival, Britt, Grand Teton, Wintergreen, and the Chautauqua Institute. In addition to the 2012 Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras, Mei-Ann Chen’s skill on the podium, and as a music educator, has been recognized with several honors, awards and posts. In 2005 Ms. Chen became the first woman to win Copenhagen’s esteemed Malko Competition. She served as Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony and Baltimore Symphony, under the aegis of the League of American Orchestras, with the Oregon symphony as well. Recipient of the 2007 Taki Concordia Fellowship, she has appeared jointly with Marin Alsop and Stefan Sanderling in highly acclaimed subscription concerts with the Baltimore Symphony, Colorado Symphony and Florida Orchestra. In 2002, Ms. Chen was unanimously selected as Music Director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic in Oregon, the oldest of its kind and a model for many youth orchestras in the United States. During her five-year tenure with the orchestra, she led its sold-out debut in Carnegie Hall, received an ASCAP award for innovative programming, and developed new and unique musicianship programs for the orchestra’s members. She was also the recipient of a Sunburst Award from Young Audiences for her contribution to music education.
Born in Taiwan, Mei-Ann Chen has lived in the United States since 1989. She was the first student in New England Conservatory’s history to receive master’s degrees, simultaneously, in both violin and conducting, later studying with Kenneth Kiesler at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting. Ms. Chen also participated in the National Conducting Institute in Washington, D.C. and at the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen.
