At nineteen, Jaap van Zweden became the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. This early appointment marked the transition from his initial path as a prize-winning violinist toward a lengthy career as an orchestral conductor, eventually leading major musical organizations across Europe and Asia under his direction.
Early Musical Development
Born in Amsterdam in 1960, van Zweden began his violin training at age five with encouragement from his father, a pianist. This achievement provided the opportunity for him to attend the Juilliard School, where he received instruction from Dorothy DeLay before returning to the Netherlands for his position with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Transition to Conducting
The pivot to conducting occurred after Leonard Bernstein observed his work and invited him to lead an orchestra rehearsal in Berlin. Throughout the 1990s, he focused on developing his skills with various smaller ensembles. He transitioned into full-time conducting in 1997, holding positions with the Orkest van het Oosten in Enschede from 1996 through 2000 and the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague from 2000 until 2005, where he recorded the complete Beethoven symphonies.
International Tenure
His career expanded globally following guest appearances in St. Louis in 1996 and Dallas in 2006. He served as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra music director from 2008 until 2018, later serving as conductor laureate until 2021. He also led the Hong Kong Philharmonic as music director between 2012 and 2024. In the Netherlands, he was chief conductor of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest in Hilversum from 2005 to 2012 and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2011. He currently serves as music director of the Seoul Philharmonic and is the music director-designate for the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
New York Philharmonic and Philanthropy
In 2018, he assumed the role of music director for the New York Philharmonic following guest engagements starting in 2012. He concluded his tenure there in 2024. Outside of his musical duties, he and his wife, the artist Aaltje van Zweden–van Buuren, founded the Papageno Foundation in 2000 to offer music therapy to autistic children, an interest driven by their personal experience with their son, Benjamin.
Fast facts
- Born: 1960, Amsterdam
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Chief conductor, Residentie Orchestra: 2000–2005
- Music director, Dallas Symphony: 2008–2018
- Music director, HK Phil: 2012–2024
- Music director, New York Philharmonic: 2018–2024
- Awards: Silver Bauhinia Star (2020)
Questions readers ask
What foundations did Jaap van Zweden establish?
He and his wife established the Papageno Foundation in 2000 to provide music therapy to children with autism.
Where is he currently directing?
As of 2024, he is the music director of the Seoul Philharmonic and is the music director-designate of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
Achievements
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
