The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) has welcomed the Taiwanese-American conductor Mei-Ann Chen as its new Director of Orchestral Activities and Chair of Conducting, effective from July 1, 2026.

Chen succeeds George Manahan, who announced his retirement from the role last December after a landmark 55-year tenure.  

In her new role, Chen will teach MSM’s conducting students and regularly conduct the MSM Symphony Orchestra, where she will also provide strategic and artistic leadership. 

Chen has led 160 major orchestras across the globe, including in the U.S., where she has conducted the San Francisco and Chicago Symphony Orchestras; and in Europe and Asia, where she has led the BBC Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and many more.

Since 2011, she has served as Music Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta, and from 2021, she began her tenure as Chief Conductor of Austria’s Recreation – Grosses Orchester Graz. 

Chen is also Artistic Advisor of Massachusetts’s Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Partner of Houston’s ROCO, and of Washington’s Northwest Sinfonietta. 

As an educator, she has mentored participants in the Chicago Sinfonietta Freeman Conducting Fellowship program and the Taki Alsop Fellowship. Her discography is featured on Cedille Records, Innova Records, and Naxos. 

 

 

“We are delighted to announce this appointment and are looking forward to welcoming Mei-Ann on campus in a few short months,” said MSM Executive Vice President and Provost Joyce Griggs. “Mei-Ann has led the MSM Symphony Orchestra on multiple occasions — as recently as last October — so she has already proven herself a strong fit with the School and its tradition of providing both a forum for artistic excellence and a nurturing, supportive learning environment. Her leadership will contribute to shaping a cohesive, pedagogically grounded vision for MSM’s orchestral experiences.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Mei-Ann to MSM in this important role,” added MSM Dean of Instrumental Studies and Orchestral Performance JT Kane. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Mei-Ann over many years, and she is an extraordinary artist whose musicianship, leadership, and commitment to mentorship have inspired musicians and audiences around the world … Our students will benefit tremendously from her insight, energy, and the experience she brings both to the podium and the classroom.”

“It is such an honor to join Manhattan School of Music, a globally renowned conservatory, and its esteemed faculty,” Chen shared. “The MSM Community creates the ideal balance between world-class prestige and kindest incubator. It is a dream combination and a rarity among top music schools. Since the beginning of my professional career, I have been an advocate for tomorrow’s artists and the importance of quality education because I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the phenomenal mentors who saw the possibilities I couldn’t see for myself. I am thrilled to have the chance to pay it forward by adding to MSM’s tremendous impact in our evolving industry and contributing to the artistic growth of the next generation as they refine their unique creative voices!”