Peter Oundjian
guest conductor
A dynamic presence in the conducting world, Toronto-born conductor Peter Oundjian is renowned for his probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality. Peter’s appointment as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2004 reinvigorated the Orchestra with numerous recordings, tours and acclaimed, innovative programming, as well as extensive audience growth, thereby significantly strengthening the ensemble’s presence in the world. In August of 2014, he led the TSO on a tour of Europe, which included a sold-out performance at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the first performance of a North American orchestra at Reykjavik’s Harpa Hall.
A dynamic presence in the conducting world, Toronto-born conductor Peter Oundjian is renowned for his probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality. Peter’s appointment as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2004 reinvigorated the Orchestra with numerous recordings, tours and acclaimed, innovative programming, as well as extensive audience growth, thereby significantly strengthening the ensemble’s presence in the world. In August of 2014, he led the TSO on a tour of Europe, which included a sold-out performance at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the first performance of a North American orchestra at Reykjavik’s Harpa Hall.
Peter was appointed music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2012. Under his baton, the orchestra has enjoyed several successful tours including one to China, and has continued its relationship with Chandos Records.
Few conductors bring such musicianship and engagement to the world’s great podiums, from Berlin, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv to New York, Chicago and Sydney. He has also appeared at some of the great annual gatherings of music and music-lovers: from the BBC Proms and the Prague Spring Festival, to the Edinburgh Festival and The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Mozart Festival, where he was artistic director from 2003 to 2005.
Peter was principal guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 2006 to 2010 and artistic director of the Caramoor International Music Festival in New York between 1997 and 2007. Since 1981, he has been a visiting professor at the Yale School of Music, and was awarded the university’s Sanford Medal for distinguished service to music in 2013.