James S. Kahane

James Salomon Kahane (born 28 July 1995, Paris) is a French-German conductor. Known professionally as James S. Kahane, he is currently principal conductor of the Polytech Orchestra and the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra, co-principal conductor of the Orchestre de Chambre de la Drôme, and music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Biography

As a youth, Kahane studied the piano. At age 14, Kahane entered the Conservatoire à rayonnement communal du 13e arrondissement de Paris. He developed an interest in conducting at age 17, and subsequently enrolled at the Sibelius Academy, where he studied from 2015 to 2021 and his conducting teachers included Atso Almila and Sakari Oramo,^[1] as well as Hannu Lintu.^[2] He has participated in conducting masterclasses at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, the Lucerne Festival and the Tanglewood Festival, with such conductors as Paavo Järvi, Bernard Haitink, Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher, David Zinman, Roger Norrington, Mikko Franck, Leif Segerstam, Jorma Panula, Johannes Schlaefli and Nicolás Pasquet.

Since 2016, Kahane has been affiliated with the Far(away) Ensemble. In 2017 and 2018, Kahane was assistant conductor to Susanna Mälkki at the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2018, he was appointed conductor of the Polytech Orchestra (Espoo, Finland). In 2019, he became principal conductor of the re-founded Helsinki Chamber Orchestra. In 2023, he became co-principal conductor of the Orchestre de Chambre de la Drôme.

In October 2023, Kahane first guest-conducted the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO).^[1] In May 2024, the HPO announced the appointment of Kahane as its next music director, effective with the 2024–2025 season.^[3][4]

Kahane was one of the three protagonists of the documentary movie Conductivity (Finnish title Orkesterin Edessä), released in 2020, which followed him as a young conducting student at the Sibelius Academy.^[5]

Discography

• Rodrigo, Ibert, Jolivet: Flute Concertos, with Sami Junnonen and the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra (2024, Resonus Classics)^[6]

References

1. Leonard Turnevicius (2023-10-05). "Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is eyeing a string of guest conductors". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
2. "James Salomon Kahane, dans les traces des chefs d'orchestre finlandais". Ambassade de France en Finlande. 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
3. "Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Announces Next Music Director" (Press release). Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
4. Leonard Turnevicius (2024-05-16). "HPO taps James S. Kahane as new music director". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
5. "Conductivity (2020)". Raina Film Festival Distribution. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
6. "Ibert • Jolivet • Rodrigo". BBC Music Magazine. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-09-02.

External links

• Official website of James S. Kahane
• RSBA agency page on James S. Kahane

Cultural offices
Preceded by Eero Lehtimäki	Conductor, Polytech Orchestra 2018–present	Succeeded by Vuokko Lahtinen
Preceded by (no predecessor)	Principal Conductor, Helsinki Chamber Orchestra 2019–present	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Mathis Calzetta	Co-Principal Conductor, Orchestre de Chambre de la Drôme 2023–present	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Gemma New	Music Director, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra 2024–present	Succeeded by incumbent