PETER OUNDJIAN
Artistic Adviser and Principal Conductor

A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian continues to make his mark as one of today’s most exciting faces on the conducting scene.  His probing musicality, spirit of collaboration, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike, as well as frequent re-engagements. Peter Oundjian became Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra during the 2004–2005 season and also serves as the Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Detroit Symphony.

Mr. Oundjian’s relationship with Caramoor began in 1981, as the first violinist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet, a position he held for fourteen years.  Through his long association with the Tokyo String Quartet, Oundjian extensively explored the quartet repertoire including the complete String Quartets of Bartok, Beethoven and Schubert and received four Grammy nominations.

Oundjian’s formal conducting debut was at Caramoor in 1995.  In his debut concert with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s he shared the podium with Andre Previn.  2007 marks his tenth year of artistic leadership at Caramoor, where he is a regular presence, providing artistic guidance and appearing as a guest conductor and lecturer.

Among this summer’s highlights at Caramoor will be his performance with Hélène Grimaud performing Brahms’ second concerto for piano and orchestra on June 23, and a concert on July 7 featuring the Caramoor Virtuosi in Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello, and Orchestra.  He will lead the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in both of these programs.

Mr. Oundjian’s 2007-08 season features return visits to many of the orchestras with which he has built ongoing relationships including the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he served as the Director of the Absolutely Mozart Festival for the four years of its existence, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Colorado Symphonies, and the Aspen Festival.  Abroad, he will conduct two weeks with the Zurich Tonhalle, as well as the Radio Philharmonique in Paris.  In addition to several weeks in Toronto and Detroit, the next two seasons also feature Peter Oundjian’s returns to lead the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester at the Konzerthaus as well as the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, and the Houston, Dallas and Pittsburgh Symphonies, among others.

Born in Toronto, Mr. Oundjian was educated in England, studying the violin with Manoug Parikian. He was chosen to participate in three recording sessions with Benjamin Britten, which sparked his enthusiasm for conducting. He attended London’s Royal College of Music, earning the Gold Medal for Most Distinguished Student and Stoutzker Prize for excellence in violin playing. He continued violin studies at the Juilliard School, studying with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman, and Dorothy Delay. In 1980 he received first prize at the International Violin Competition in Vina Del Mar, Chile. He currently teaches at the Yale School of Music.