Peter Oundjian

MUSIC DIRECTOR

A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian continues to make his mark as one of the most exciting faces on the conducting scene today.  His strong bond with Toronto musicians and audiences continues through the fifth season of his eight year tenure as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Known for his communicative gifts on and off the podium, Mr. Oundjian’s concerts draw capacity audiences as he explores the breadth and depth of orchestral repertoire, and as he helps to create compelling seasons featuring world-renowned soloists and guest conductors.  At the beginning of his tenure with the TSO, Mr. Oundjian created the now-annual Mozart Festival and the New Creations Festival.  His probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike. 

News of Mr. Oundjian and the TSO continues to spread worldwide through the documentary Five Days In September: The Rebirth of An Orchestra, which has won numerous awards at major international film festivals and has been released on DVD.

In addition to his post in Toronto, Peter Oundjian continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, having helped to create and launch 8 Days In June, an innovative multi-disciplinary festival. He has also played a major role at the Caramoor International Music Festival in New York for over a decade.  From 1998-2003, Mr. Oundjian was the Music Director of the Nieuw Sinfonietta in Amsterdam, and recorded the impressive BIS CD of Beethoven.

During the 09.10 season, Mr. Oundjian will conduct the Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Louis, Royal Scottish National and Budapest Festival Orchestras, among others. In May 2009 Mr. Oundjian will receive an honourary doctorate from the San Francisco Conservatory.

Born in Toronto, Peter Oundjian was educated in England, where he studied the violin with Manoug Parikian.  He then attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he was awarded the Gold Medal for Most Distinguished Student and Stoutzker Prize for excellence in violin playing.  Peter Oundjian completed his violin training at the Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman, and Dorothy DeLay.  He was the first violinist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet, a position he held for fourteen years.  Mr. Oundjian is now in his 27th year as a visiting professor at the Yale School of Music.  He and his wife Nadine have two children, Lara and Peter.