Judith Yan

Judith Yan is an internationally acclaimed conductor recognized for her exceptional contributions to the world of performing arts. Equally adept at symphony, opera, and ballet, Yan’s career has taken her internationally, conducting for major companies in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.  

OPERA

Her professional career began in 1998, when she was appointed by the late-Richard Bradshaw as the first Conductor-in-Residence of the Canadian Opera Company. In 2001, she joined San Francisco Opera as the Staff Conductor, appointed by Sir Donald Runnicles.

Since 2010, she has been the Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera on the Avalon, leading numerous productions from the standard repertoire, as well as the world-premieres of Estacio’s Ours and Kaminsky’s February.

As a guest, she has conducted classical and modern productions for many opera houses in Canada, USA and Germany, including a world premiere.

BALLET

From 2006 to 2009, Yan conducted over 90 performances for the National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre. Since 2010, she has had a close association with Hong Kong Ballet, premiering four of the company’s productions: Cynthia Harvey’s Sleeping Beauty, Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, and the Asian world-premiere of Holme’s Le Corsaire.

She has also guest conducted numerous productions for the Korean National Ballet, the Polish National Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Indiana University Bloomington, including two premieres.

SYMPHONY

As Artistic Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2019, Yan expanded the orchestra’s repertoire with works by Bernstein, Copland, Stravinsky, and Philip Glass. She has guest-conducted the Auckland Philharmonic (New Zealand), the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Since 2021, she enjoys a close association with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, conducting eight programs ranging from Beethoven to Max Richter.