Peter Oundjian

A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian continues to make his mark as one of today’s most exciting faces on the conducting scene. His probing musicality, spirit of collaboration, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike, as well as frequent re-engagements. The strong bond forged with the musicians and community of Toronto continues through his second season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony. Through his communicative gifts on and off the podium, Mr. Oundjian’s concerts draw strong audiences as he explores the breadth and depth of orchestral repertoire and features world-renowned soloists. Much to Toronto concertgoers’ delight, this season will reprise the Mozart and New Creations Festivals that were hailed for their stunning and impassioned performances.

A consummate musician and natural leader, Oundjian’s 2005-06 season includes twelve weeks in Toronto plus return visits to the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Houston, and St. Louis Symphonies, as well as regular engagements in Colorado, where he is currently Principal Guest Conductor. Additional appearances include debuts in Paris and with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Along with concerts at the Caramoor Festival in the summer of 2005, where Oundjian currently serves as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor, Oundjian triumphantly led the Philadelphia Orchestra in its fourth annual Mozart Festival. Oundjian has conducted this Festival since its inception and serves as its Guest Artistic Director and Conductor. Oundjian’s bond with the Philadelphia Orchestra is a powerful one, and has resulted in these Festival appearances as well as invitations for several subscription weeks scheduled through the fall of 2006. In summer 2005, return visits to the Aspen, Grand Teton and Tanglewood Festivals were also notable.

A significant relationship was formed upon Peter Oundjian’s triumphant 1998 debut in St Louis, where he filled a cancellation on a week’s notice; he has been returning to St. Louis seasonally ever since. His debut with the Houston Symphony in 1999 was equally magical, and the connection he forged with the musicians and audience prompted the orchestra to bring him back a mere three months later. His annual appearances with the orchestra have become a season highlight.

Recent appearances in North America include the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Cincinnati, Symphonies as well as the Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival three summers in a row. Abroad, Mr. Oundjian has made several appearances with the Zurich Tonhalle and also led concerts with orchestras including the Saarbrucken Radio Symphony, NDR Hanover Symphony, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and at the Konzerthaus in Berlin.

Mr. Oundjian’s relationship with Caramoor began in 1981, as the first violinist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet, a position he held for fourteen years. Summer 2005 marked the 10th Anniversary of Oundjian’s formal conducting debut at Caramoor with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, a performance in which he shared the podium with Andre Previn. Mr. Oundjian continues to be a regular presence at Caramoor, and will return for the opening concert in 2006.

From 1998-2003, Oundjian served as the Music Director of the Nieuw Sinfonietta in Amsterdam. The chemistry between Oundjian and the Nieuw Sinfonietta was evident throughout their regular performances at the famed Concertgebouw and on tour throughout Europe, as well as on their impressive 2002 BIS CD of Beethoven. In their Paris debut, a cheering audience brought Oundjian back for five curtain calls.

Also memorable is Oundjian’s Carnegie Hall debut with the English Chamber Orchestra and baritone Bryn Terfel as part of a surprise performance to celebrate the 50th birthday of close friend and colleague, Pinchas Zukerman.
Through his long association with the Tokyo String Quartet, Oundjian extensively explored the quartet repertoire including the complete String Quartets of Bartok, Beethoven and Schubert and received four Grammy nominations. With the Quartet, Oundjian toured all over the world, performing the complete Beethoven cycle in such major arts centers as Carnegie Hall, La Scala in Milan, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Chatelet in Paris.

Born in Toronto, Peter Oundjian was educated in England, where he studied the violin with Manoug Parikian. During this time, Mr. Oundjian was chosen to participate in three recording sessions with Benjamin Britten, which sparked his enthusiasm for conducting. Subsequently, he attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he completed his studies in eighteen months and was awarded the Gold Medal for Most Distinguished Student and Stoutzker Prize for excellence in violin playing.

Mr. Oundjian completed his violin training at the Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman, and Dorothy Delay. While at Juilliard, he had the opportunity to conduct for Herbert von Karajan during an historic three-day series of masterclasses. In 1980, he received First Prize at the International Violin Competition in Vina Del Mar, Chile.

Mr. Oundjian is in now in his 25th year as a visiting professor at the Yale School of Music. He makes his home with his wife Nadine and their two children, Lara and Peter.