Kahchun Wong

“There is something really sincere and genuine in the way he communicates with the orchestra, and he conducts with assurance and warmth which must stem from his deep understanding of the score.”
(Bachtrack)

Chief Conductor: Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (from 2023/24)
Principal Guest Conductor: Dresdner Philharmonie (from 2023/24)
Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor: The Hallé (from 2024/25)

Internationally acclaimed for his electrifying stage presence and thoughtful exploration of Eastern and Western artistic legacies, Singaporean-born Kahchun Wong is Chief Conductor of Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of Dresden Philharmonic. From the 2024/25 season, he succeeds Sir Mark Elder as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Hallé, leading one of the UK’s most prestigious orchestras while maintaining a strong presence in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

After successful debuts at the Blossom Music Festival and Severance Hall, Wong returns to The Cleveland Orchestra in January 2025 for a concert tour of Florida. Further highlights in 2025 include the release of Britten’s The Prince of the Pagodas, Bruckner’s Symphony No.9, and Mahler’s Symphony No.2 on the Hallé label, conducting Japan Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50^th Anniversary Tour of Kyushu, and a Dresden Philharmonic recording with Olivier Latry, titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral. He will also make his Royal Festival Hall debut with London Philharmonic Orchestra and appear with China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing, alongside returning to Osaka Philharmonic and Singapore Symphony orchestras.

In his final appearance as Chief Conductor of Nürnberger Symphoniker, Wong led the world premiere of his orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition before an audience of 75,000 at the annual Klassik Open Air in Luitpoldhain. This sinfonia concertante version, featuring folk instrumental soloists from Singapore Chinese Orchestra, was widely broadcast on 3SAT and BR-Klassik.

Since winning the Mahler Competition in 2016, Wong has guest-conducted renowned orchestras such as New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland, Detroit Symphony, Seattle Symphony, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Czech Philharmonic orchestras, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, as well as Hong Kong Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony orchestras. Highlights of 2024/25 include the release of Britten’s The Prince of the Pagodas on the Hallé label, leading Japan Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50^th anniversary tour of Kyushu, a recording project with Dresdner Philharmonie featuring Olivier Latry, titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral, his debuts with Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and China National Symphony Orchestra, as well as returning to The Cleveland Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Since winning the Mahler Competition in 2016, Wong has been a strong advocate for contemporary composers. He has led the US premiere of Tan Dun’s Fire Ritual with New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the UK premiere of Toshio Hosokawa’s Prayer with BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican, and the world premiere of Reena Esmail’s Concerto for Hindustani Violin, written for Kala Ramnath, with Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Wong has collaborated with a wide range of internationally renowned soloists, including Nelson Freire, Thomas Hampson, Barbara Hannigan, Gerhard Oppitz, Christian Tetzlaff, Patricia Kopatchinskaya, Gautier Capuçon, Daniel Lozakovich, Mao Fujita, Sergei Nakariakov, and Vilde Frang.

In December 2019, Wong was awarded the Order of Merit by the Federal President of Germany in the presence of then-President Halimah Yacob in Berlin, recognising his contributions to Singaporean-German cultural relations and his role in promoting German music internationally.

worldwide general management

Season Highlights

March 2025

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Repertoire:

JOHANNES BRAHMS: Concerto for Piano No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

MALCOLM ARNOLD: Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59

ANTONIN DVORAK: Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 53

EDWARD ELGAR: Enigma Variations, Op. 36

April 2025

Hallé

Repertoire:

SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 (Classical)

ALEXANDER ARUTIUNIAN: Concerto for Trumpet in A-flat major

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

April 2025

China National Symphony Orchestra

Repertoire:

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Ouverture, Op. 96

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto for Piano No. 2, Op. 102

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

June 2025

Dresdner Philharmonie

Repertoire:

Akira Ifukube „Tanz der sieben Schleier“ aus dem Balett „Salome“ (1948/87)

AKIRA IFUKUBE: Salome – Dance of the Seven Veils

TAN DUN: Concerto for Violin ‘Fire Ritual’

IGOR STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite (1945 version)

Kahchun WONG(JPO Principal Guest Conductor/ Chief Conductor(2023-)) conducts Mahler symphony No.5 © 日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団【公式】

Child at Street 11 and Project Infinitude | Why Music Matters: Ep 1 | The Straits Times © The Straits Times

“Wong was a sensitive and sympathetic accompanist, revealing more of his undoubted skills as orchestra maestro as he explores relatively novel ground in his first Halle season as principal conductor.”

The Arts Desk, March 2025

“Kahchun Wong shaped everything with insight and attention to fine detail. His pacing and control of the final climax had a superb sense of inevitability and brought a huge ovation from the audience. The Halle is clearly in very good hands.”

Nottingham Post, March 2025

“The balanced sound of muted trumpets and trombones united with soft woodwind was magical here in Wong’s hands …”

(Robert Beale, the Arts Desk, 2024)

“The Hallé, under its new principal conductor Kahchun Wong, plays superbly and the recording … brilliantly captures Britten’s coruscating sounds”

Financial Times, November 2024

“There is something spacious in Wong’s direction … which seems to conjure a tangible sense of theatrical presence while bringing a visceral physical brilliance to Britten’s kaleidoscopic invention.”

Gramophone, November 2024,

“…its interpretation, conducted entirely from memory, also provided an intensely illuminating experience of Wong’s approach and skills as a musician.”

The Arts Desk, Robert Beale, October 2024

“Wong especially impressed in the scherzo, weighting down the thrusting chords in the music’s diabolic dance, underlining the contrast with the trio section’s weirdly scurrying, disembodied notes.”

The Times, Geoff Brown, October 2024

“The sound throughout was magnificent, as was Wong’s control of those Bruckner peculiarities … that require conductors, orchestras and listeners to show sympathy and patience.”

The Times, Geoff Brown, October 2024

“Any competent maestro can whip up a big noise, but it’s a lot harder to make meaning out of silence. Wong has the knack: he’s one to watch.”

The Spectator, Richard Bratby, September 2024

“the Halle has struck gold with this new appointment. Wong is a hugely gifted, properly serious maestro, who is bound to grow and grow.”

The Telegraph, September 2024

“His [Kahchun’s] path is one audiences and music-lovers will continue to watch with rapt attention, each gesture of his baton promising a future as thrilling and transformative as the music he commands from the podium today.”

Seen and Heard International, Zach Carstensen, January 2024

“He will no doubt set Manchester alight when he succeeds Sir Mark Elder at the Hallé. Indeed, he will turn heads and move hearts wherever he goes.”

Bachtrack, February 2024

“…this rich smorgasbord of sound and colour led by Wong could be described in two words: Absolutely brilliant.”

Straits Times, August 2022