(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Orchestra has signed David Chan as Music Director for another seven years, extending his tenure with the orchestra until 2027, and marking 10 years in the role. This extension allows the organization to work together with Chan to execute important new artistic and education initiatives, including the development of a new youth orchestra program to serve the New York metropolitan region starting in 2021.
Maestro Chan was selected as the inaugural Music Director for The Montclair Orchestra in 2016, shortly after the organization was established. Andre Weker, President and Founder of The Montclair Orchestra, stated that "David has been a primary influence in the success of the Montclair Orchestra. His artistic leadership creates an environment that inspires orchestra members to advance as musicians, and perform at a world-class level. As we continue to grow as an organization, I am thrilled that David has committed to continue in his role as Music Director, and I look forward to what is possible under his direction in the years to come."
Under Chan's direction, the orchestra has thrived. Most recently, they were recognized in the New York Classical Review’s 'Top Performances of 2019,' calling out their performance of Mozart Symphony No. 40 as one that “would best most or all of this country’s major orchestras,” and embedding the impact of the organization beyond its Northern New Jersey base and into the competitive artistic climate of New York City. Chan said of his new contract: "Working with The Montclair Orchestra over the past three seasons has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling projects of my entire career. I’m grateful for the organization’s commitment to me with this long-term contract, and for the opportunity to continue shaping the orchestra through its first decade."
David Chan is one of today's most sought after artists, both as a violinist and a conductor. The 2019-20 season marks not only his 20th as concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera (MET), but also his third as the inaugural Music Director of New Jersey’s Montclair Orchestra, with which he is already developing a reputation for innovative and adventurous programming, and his second as Music Director of Camerata Notturna, one of New York City’s foremost chamber orchestras. His guest conducting engagements in recent seasons include Belgium’s l’Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, the Malta Philharmonic, l’Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne in France, and the Grant Park and Classical Tahoe summer festivals.
A native of San Diego, Chan began his musical education at the age of four. After winning prizes at the Tchaikovsky and Indianapolis international violin competitions, he made his New York debut in 1995 at Avery Fisher Hall, and his Carnegie Hall debut in 2003, performing the Brahms Double Concerto with the MET Orchestra. A student of Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, and Michael Tseitlin, he received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his master’s from the Juilliard School. He is currently on the faculty of both Juilliard and the Mannes School of Music.
Established in 2016 as a unique orchestra that would bring together student fellows from top conservatories including The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music and the Cali School of Music, with professional mentors from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and other leading orchestras, the Montclair Orchestra has quickly become the premier professional training opportunity for conservatory students in the metropolitan region. Student Fellow alumni have already gone on to win major national auditions, including positions with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony and New World Symphony.
