The conceptual and multifaceted composer/conductor Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world’s music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical music, multimedia performance, and eastern and western traditions. He is a recipient of today’s most prestigious honours including the GRAMMY Award, Academy Award, Grawemeyer Award for classical composition, Musical America’s Composer of The Year, Shostakovich Award and the Bach Prize of Hamburg, and his music has been played throughout the world by leading orchestras, opera houses, international festivals, and on radio and television. As a conductor, Tan Dun has led the world’s most renowned orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala and the Münchner Philharmoniker, among others. In 2010, he served as Cultural Ambassador to the World for World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Tan Dun’s individual voice has been heard widely by diverse audiences. His Internet Symphony, which was commissioned by Google/YouTube, has reached over 15,000,000 people online. Paper Concerto was premièred with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the opening of Walt Disney Hall. His multimedia concerto, The Map, first performed by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has been included in the Carnegie Hall Composers Gallery. Important recent premières include Four Secret Roads of Marco Polo for the Berlin Philharmonic and Piano Concerto ‘The Fire’ for Lang Lang and the New York Philharmonic.

Tan Dun’s inspiration culminates in his operatic creations: Marco Polo, commissioned by the Edinburgh Festival, has had multiple productions including with De Nederlandse Opera, directed by Pierre Audi; The First Emperor with Plácido Domingo, commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera; Tea: A Mirror of Soul, first performed at Japan’s Suntory Hall; and Peony Pavilion, directed by Peter Sellars, which has had over 50 performances at major festivals.

Tan Dun’s recordings have won many accolades, including a GRAMMY Award (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and nominations (The First Emperor, Marco Polo, Pipa Concerto), Japan’s Recording Academy Awards for Best Contemporary Music CD (Water Passion after St Matthew) and the BBC’s Best Orchestral Album (Death and Fire).