Carnegie Hall

Gianandrea Noseda is one of the world’s most sought-after conductors, equally recognized for his artistry in both concert halls and opera houses. The 2024–2025 season marks his eighth as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra and fourth season as general music director of the Zurich Opera House.

Noseda’s leadership has inspired and reinvigorated the National Symphony Orchestra, which makes its home at the Kennedy Center. The renewed artistic recognition and critical acclaim has led to invitations to Carnegie Hall and international concert halls, as well as digital streaming and a record label distributed by LSO Live, for which Noseda also records as principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. Noseda’s discography spans more than 80 recordings, including dozens of critically acclaimed albums with a range of orchestras and repertoire for various labels, including Deutsche Grammophon and Chandos.

From 2007–2018, Noseda served as music director of the Teatro Regio Torino, where his leadership marked the opera house’s golden era.

Noseda has conducted the most important international orchestras, opera houses, and festivals, and had significant roles at the BBC Philharmonic (chief conductor), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (principal guest conductor), Mariinsky Theatre (principal guest conductor), RAI National Symphony Orchestra (principal guest conductor), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Victor de Sabata Chair), Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (principal guest conductor), and Stresa Festival (artistic director).

Working with the next generation of musicians is important to Noseda. In summer 2025, he leads Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA on a tour of Asia. He led a tour with the European Union Youth Orchestra in summer 2024, which included the Edinburgh and Lucerne festivals. In 2019, he was appointed the founding music director of the Tsinandali Festival and Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra in the village of Tsinandali, Georgia.

A native of Milan, Noseda is a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, marking his contribution to the artistic life of Italy, and was recently awarded the Ambrogino d’Oro by the city of Milan. He has been recognized as Best Conductor by the German OPER! AWARDS, and Conductor of the Year by both Musical America and the International Opera Awards. He is also a recipient of the Puccini Award.

Violinist Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a global presence that enhances and inspires a new classical audience, his remarkable musicianship reaches millions of fans, reflected through his engagements both online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world.

Profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone magazines, Chen has also been featured in the Forbes list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, appeared in the series Mozart in the Jungle, signed a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani (who designed the cover of his album of works by Mozart with Christoph Eschenbach), and performed at major media events such as France’s Bastille Day (live to 800,000 people), the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm (telecast across Europe), and the BBC Proms. More recently, Chen co-founded Tonic, an independent startup that aims to motivate musicians and learners around the world to practice their craft together. His presence on social media makes him a pioneer in an artist’s interaction with audiences, utilizing new opportunities of modern technology.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Chen was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, where he studied with Aaron Rosand and was supported by Young Concert Artists. He plays the 1714 “Dolphin” Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by famed violinist Jascha Heifetz.

(Performing only in Seoul, South Korea)

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is internationally renowned for her musicality and virtuosity. Throughout her career, she has received many accolades, including first prizes at the international competitions of Indianapolis, Sendai, and Seoul.

Recent and upcoming highlights include appearances at the BBC Proms, Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Salzburg Festival debut. Earlier this season, she performed with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia alongside Daniel Harding and returned to the Munich Philharmonic with Lahav Shani. In addition, she performs with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on tour to China and Europe with Zubin Mehta.

Kang also returns to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra before debuts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa), Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. She performs a recital tour across Korea and makes recital debuts at the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin and Hong Kong City Hall.

Other recent highlights include performances with the New York Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Kang has made two recordings for Decca: Modern Solo, and an album of works by Brahms and Robert Schumann with pianist Yeol Eum Son. Her cycle of Beethoven sonatas with pianist Sunwook Kim was released on Accentus Music to critical acclaim. A devoted chamber musician, she frequently collaborates with renowned musicians, including Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, and Mischa Maisky.

Born in Germany to a musical family, Kang took up the violin at age 3 and a year later enrolled as the youngest-ever student at the Musikhochschule Mannheim. She went on to study with Zakhar Bron in Lübeck, Germany, and by age 7 was awarded a full scholarship to The Juilliard School to study with Dorothy DeLay. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Korea National University of Arts under Nam Yun Kim before completing her studies at the Musikhochschule Munich with Christoph Poppen. Kang was awarded the Daewon Music Award in 2012 for her outstanding international achievements as well as being named Kumho Musician of the Year in 2015.

Photo © Marco Borggreve