Fan Ting

One of Asia’s most distinguished conductors, FAN TING (b. 1960) currently serves as Principal Conductor of the Euro Sinfonietta Vienna, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet. Highlights from the past two seasons include concerts with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra in the Great Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna; with the Euro Sinfonietta Vienna at Das MuTh concert hall; and with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague’s Dvořák Hall and the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House. He also toured with the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra in Szolnok, performing at the Haydn Hall in Esterházy Palace and the Vigadó Concert Hall in Budapest. In Asia, Fan Ting conducted at the International Classical Music Festival in Hanoi with the Polish Baltic Neopolis Orchestra and the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet. He has also appeared with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, and led an opera gala in Singapore. Upcoming highlights for the 2025–2026 season include a tour with the Euro Sinfonietta Vienna at Esterházy Palace and Ehrbar Hall in Vienna, a guest appearance with the Daegu Symphony Orchestra at an international festival, and serving on the jury for the final round of the International Music Competition “Ysaÿe.” Fan Ting was born in Guangzhou into a family of teachers who were persecuted during the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong. His parents were so poor they couldn’t afford a violin or music lessons. A neighbor gave him an instrument, and his teachers taught him free of charge. After being admitted to the Central Conservatory in Guangzhou, he ran away to Hong Kong at the age of 13 to pursue his dream of becoming a violinist. There, Maestro Lim Kek-tjiang, renowned violinist and conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, took him under his wing and trained him. Ting played in the orchestra to support himself. He continued his education in the United States, studying violin first at the Curtis Institute and later at the Juilliard School with Joshua Brodsky, Joseph Fuchs, and Ivan Galamian. While at Juilliard, he also completed a conducting course with Jorge Mester, laying the foundation for his eventual transition to conducting. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, where he performed for 38 seasons. Over the years he held positions as Second Violin Leader, Assistant Concertmaster, and Concertmaster. Alongside his orchestral career, he founded the Tononi Quartet, the New Art Quartet, and the Canzone Trio. With these ensembles he presented premieres of works by Benjamin Britten and Leoš Janáček in China and toured internationally in Canada, England, Italy, Japan, and the United States. In 2018, Fan Ting accepted the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra in Vietnam, marking the beginning of his conducting career. He is also deeply committed to nurturing young professional musicians in Hong Kong. He founded the Capital Youth Orchestra, now regarded as one of Asia’s leading youth ensembles, and the Inheritage Philharmonic, with which he performs major orchestral repertoire in prominent concert halls while providing vital opportunities for emerging talent. In addition, Ting is a founding member of the orchestral technique program at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and he teaches at both the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University.