ABOUT

Tristan Rais-Sherman is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting musicians of his generation, celebrated for his collaborative spirit, creativity, and joyful music-making. A three-time consecutive recipient of The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Rais-Sherman is dedicated to communicating the expressive power of orchestral music to new audiences and ensuring a vibrant future for the art form.

The 2024-2025 season will see Rais-Sherman return to The Philadelphia Orchestra, with whom he maintains a close relationship following his tenure as Assistant Conductor. Known for his ability to generate palpable excitement in his performances, Rais-Sherman will also return to The San Diego Symphony, with a highly anticipated debut with the Inner Mongolia Symphony Orchestra. He will also serve as Assistant Conductor to Maestro James Gaffigan for a production of Massenet’s Manon at Les Arts Valencia.

A gifted communicator, he played a pivotal role in launching The Philadelphia Orchestra’s award-winning Orchestra After 5 series, earning praise as an "amiable host" (Philadelphia Inquirer). He notably led The Philadelphia Orchestra to China in celebration of their 50th anniversary of their first performance in the country, debuting at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing with The China National Symphony Orchestra and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The residency garnered widespread acclaim and international press coverage, including The New York Times.

Past season highlights include a last minute step in to lead a performance of Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem with The Billings Symphony and debuts with The Baltimore Symphony and the San Diego Symphony. Rais-Sherman has collaborated with orchestras across the world, including with the New York Philharmonic, Bamberger Symphoniker, St. Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Dartington Festival Orchestra, Aurora Festival, St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, and Berlin Sinfonietta.

During his tenure as Assistant Conductor at The Philadelphia Orchestra, Rais-Sherman appeared numerous times on the stage of the Kimmel Center for The Performing Arts, leading the orchestra in programs including School Concerts, Family Concerts, and Special Events. He recently made his debut at the Mann Center in a concert featuring American music alongside the Marcus Roberts Trio, premiering Adolphus Hailstork’s An American Port of Call with the orchestra. He has enjoyed close collaboration with Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann, and many more of classical music’s top artists.

Deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of musicians, Rais-Sherman has led the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen, conducted master classes at the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and led educational programs with The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, New England Conservatory, New York Youth Symphony, the Kaufman Music Center, University of Michigan, ShanghaiTech University, and at the Shanghai Children’s Palace.

Rais-Sherman has had the pleasure of working with mentors such as Hugh Wolff, Kenneth Kiesler, Sian Edwards, and Leif Segerstam. He is the only conductor to receive an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory and holds a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance from Ithaca College.