Stéphane Denève conducts A Hero's Life.

Stéphane Denève is Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the New World Symphony, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. He recently concluded terms as Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director of the Brussels Philharmonic, having previously served as Chief Conductor of Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR) and Music Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Recognised internationally for the exceptional quality of his performances and programming, Stéphane Denève regularly appears at major concert venues with the world’s greatest orchestras and soloists. He has a special affinity for the music of his native France, and is a passionate advocate for music of the 21st century.

Stéphane Denève’s recent and upcoming engagements in Europe include appearances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Vienna Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, DSO Berlin, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, WDR Cologne, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra - with whom he was invited to conduct the 2020 Nobel Prize concert.

Denève is also a frequent visitor to Asia, where he has worked regularly with orchestras including the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and Seoul Philharmonic. In 2023, he conducted the Saito Kinen Orchestra at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, and was honoured to take part in a special concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo for Deutsche Grammophon’s 125th Anniversary Gala, sharing the stage with his long-time friend, the legendary composer John Williams.

In North America, Stéphane Denève made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra - with whom he has appeared several times both in Boston and at Tanglewood - and he also regularly conducts orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony and NSO Washington - with whom he conducted John Williams’ official 90th Birthday gala at the Kennedy Center in 2022. He is also a popular guest at numerous US summer music festivals, including the Hollywood Bowl, Bravo!Vail, Blossom Music Festival, Festival Napa Valley, Grand Teton Music Festival, Sun Valley Music Festival, and Music Academy of the West.

A gifted communicator and educator, Denève is committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians and listeners. In addition to his position with the New World Symphony and his long-standing relationship with the Colburn School, Denève has worked regularly with young people in programmes including those of the Tanglewood Music Center, European Union Youth Orchestra, and Music Academy of the West.