Biography

Finnish-American conductor Erik Ochsner is Music Director of SONOS Chamber Orchestra. He has been principal touring conductor for La La Land—Live in Concert since 2017, performing Justin Hurwitz’s Oscar- and Grammy-winning score from Montreal to Bulgaria. He makes his San Francisco Symphony debut at these performances.

In 2018, Mr. Ochsner led the world premiere of the complete Beauty and the Beast in Concert (with live vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra) at the Krakow Film Music Festival in Poland. Recent and upcoming engagements include conducting four Star Wars films in Taipei and the world premiere of Mary Poppins in Concert at the Sydney Opera House.

Mr. Ochsner appeared as guest conductor at the Nanjing Forest Music Festival, served as music director and conductor of the 2017 Opera America New Works Showcase, and he premiered “The Music of Star Wars” with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, a full-length evening production featuring the music of John Williams and video game composer Gordy Haab. Mr. Ochsner’s recordings include Brian Wilbur Grundstrom: An Orchestral Journey on CD, and Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul on DVD.

Mr. Ochsner attended the Pierre Monteux School and is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He lives in New York City, loves traveling, wine, and collecting recordings.

(December 2018)