Jimmy Chiang

Born in Hong Kong and now an Austrian citizen, Jimmy Chiang is an internationally celebrated conductor and concert pianist of remarkable versatility. His musical journey began at the tender age of four when he discovered his passion for playing the piano. Over the years, he expanded his musical repertoire, mastered the cello, and delved into the art of composition.

His exceptional talent brought him into the spotlight at a young age when he first performed as a soloist on the piano with the Hong Kong Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13. From 1994 to 1996, he enriched the orchestra as a cellist before assuming his role as first guest conductor in 2008.

Chiang's pursuit of musical excellence led him through renowned institutions such as the Trinity College of Music in London, Baylor University in the USA, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. There, he was inspired and nurtured by esteemed mentors such as Seiji Ozawa, Leopold Hager, Erwin Ortner, and Wolfgang Watzinger.

As the winner of the prestigious "Lovro von Matačić" Conducting Competition in 2007, Chiang quickly established himself as a leading force in the world of classical music. From 2007 to 2009, he served as assistant to the General Music Director in the production of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle at the Lübeck Theater and participated in opera productions at the historic Eutin Festival.

His artistic journey continued to the Theater Freiburg, where he served as Kapellmeister from 2009 to 2011. There, he conducted, among other works, a production of György Ligeti's "Le Grand Macabre" directed by Calixto Bieito, which was enthusiastically received by both audiences and critics alike.

Since autumn 2013, Jimmy Chiang has been the Kapellmeister of the renowned Vienna Boys' Choir. Under his leadership, the choir has embarked on numerous tours across Europe, Asia, and the USA, performing in world-famous concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Vienna Musikverein.

Chiang's remarkable collaborations with esteemed orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, under the batons of conductors like Riccardo Muti, Franz Welser-Möst, Philippe Jordan, and Joana Mallwitz, cement his reputation as one of the leading conductors of his generation.

A highlight in Chiang's career was undoubtedly his conducting of Mahler's 8th Symphony in Hong Kong in 2016, during his tenure as artistic director of the Hong Kong-Vienna Music Festival. Additionally, he has conducted ensembles such as the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle, the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Orquesta Sinfonie Castilla y Leon, the Taranto Opera Festival, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Through his outstanding achievements and unwavering dedication to the arts, Jimmy Chiang has established himself as a leading figure in the world of classical music, and his influence will continue to inspire generations of music lovers worldwide.