Music and Musicians

Carolyn Kuan

Carolyn Kuan is recognized as one of the most exciting, innovative and outstanding conductors of her generation. Having recently concluded a highly impressive and successful tenure as Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, previous associations have seen her as Artist-in-Residence at the New York City Ballet, Assistant Conductor for the Baltimore Opera Company and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music where she continues to return annually.

As guest conductor, Carolyn Kuan has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony (UK), Detroit Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Festival del Sole. In addition, in October 2008 she led the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in a special performance in front of Swiss President Pascal Couchepin, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, more than 20 other European heads of state, and dozens of Nobel laureates.

Upcoming engagement highlights include her debuts with the Florida Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Memphis Symphony (opening of the 2009/2010 season), and her return to the San Francisco Symphony and Seattle Symphony.

Ms. Kuan is a keen advocate of new music, having served as the Assistant Conductor of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music under Music Director Marin Alsop since 2003. In this same vein Kuan has conducted world premiers in Merkin Hall New York City for Music from Japen, and has led the Peabody Symphony Orchestra in readings and recordings of new compositions.

The recipient of numerous awards, Ms. Kuan holds the distinction of being the first female to be awarded the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Fellowship by the Herbert von Karajan Centrum and the American Austrian Foundation in 2003, which resulted in her residency at the 2004 Salzburg Festival. Winner of the first Taki Concordia Fellowship, she has received additional awards from the Women's Philharmonic, Conductors Guild, Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship and Susan W. Rose Fund for Music. Ms. Kuan studied with Marin Alsop, Kurt Masur, Gustav Meier and Leonard Slatkin. She graduated cum laude from Smith College, received a Master of Music from the University of Illinois and a Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory.