Hans Vonk

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The distinguished Dutch conductor, Hans Vonk, appears with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras in Europe and North America, while also remaining active in the musical life of his native Holland.

Hans Vonk recently completed six years as Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony. During his tenure he made five recordings with the orchestra and their collaborations both in the U.S. and abroad met with the highest critical acclaim. Mr. Vonk will return to St. Louis for several weeks in the upcoming seasons.

Born in Amsterdam, Hans Vonk studied piano at the Amsterdam Conservatory and conducting with Franco Ferrara and Hermann Scherchen. He also studied law at the University of Amsterdam. Mr. Vonk’s first conducting appointment was with the Netherlands Ballet from 1966 to 1969. He then became Assistant Conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He was Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Opera from 1976 to 1985, during which time he was also Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic (1973-1979) and Associate Conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1976-1979). From 1980-1991, Mr. Vonk was Chief Conductor of the Hague’s Residentie Orchestra and he toured extensively with that ensemble throughout Europe and the United States. His operatic career also advanced with his debut at La Scala, Milan, in 1980. In 1985, he became Chief Conductor of the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Dresden State Opera. He also undertook several major tours, including concerts at the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals. In 1990 he became Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. The following year, Mr. Vonk was also named Chief Conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony, a capacity in which he served through the end of the 1996-97 season.

Mr. Vonk has appeared with numerous American ensembles, including the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, the Boston Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. During the past two seasons, he has led performances with the New York Philharmonic at the Lincoln Center Festival, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Montreal and Atlanta Symphonies, the Minnesota Orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Czech Philharmonic. During the 2002-2003 season he will lead the Pittsburgh, Dallas and St. Paul Symphonies and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as appear regularly with several other orchestras in his native homeland.