Henry Cheng was selected from a field of 106 applicants from around the world to lead JCSO beginning in September 2025.
JOHNS CREEK, GA – Today, Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra (JCSO) announces that Henry Cheng has been selected as the orchestra’s new Music Director.
“As the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra continues its rapid ascent, we wanted a Music Director who would both push boundaries for JCSO and bring new audiences to Johns Creek,” said Peter Hildebrandt, President of JCSO’s Board of Directors. “Henry Cheng has both the experience and the passion to make that happen, and we couldn’t be happier with the choice. The entire board is excited to work alongside him to make Johns Creek an even more vibrant place.”
The JCSO’s recently concluded 18th concert season concentrated on the search for the orchestra’s new Music Director. Titled Three Maestros, One Podium, the season featured the three Music Director finalists as they curated and conducted a minimum of two concerts each. Following each concert, audiences were asked to submit their feedback on the candidates and cast their vote for the new Music Director. Cheng was selected based on the votes of JCSO’s musicians, audience members, and the Board of Directors.
“It’s with deep gratitude and real excitement that I join the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra as Music Director,” said Cheng. “This isn’t about making music – it’s about building something meaningful and lasting, and serving a community that truly values innovation, education, and the arts. Orchestras grow when they serve, and my vision is for JCSO to become a place where people feel connected, inspired, and proud of what we create together – not just on stage, but throughout the city. My family and I are looking forward to becoming part of Johns Creek’s cultural and civic life, and to building on the strong foundation JCSO has established – helping it grow artistically, strategically, and in service to the people who call this place home.”
Cheng conducted two concerts with the JCSO as a guest conductor in the orchestra’s 2024-2025 season.
- Read about Cheng’s concert “Classical K-Pop” here.
- Read about Cheng’s concert “Heroes Among Us: A Musical Tribute” here.
Details about the JCSO’s 19th season under the new leadership of Cheng will be released over several months leading up to the new season launch in Fall 2025. Those interested in the new season are encouraged to follow along with the JCSO on social media for new announcements regarding the upcoming season.
About Henry Cheng
Henry Cheng is an internationally recognized conductor whose work brings together musical excellence, cultural curiosity, and a deep commitment to community. Winner of the Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition and the European Union Conducting Competition, Cheng has led performances across Europe, Asia, and North America with ensembles such as the La Scala Chamber Orchestra and the Tonyeong International Music Festival Ensemble.
His projects often reimagine the concert experience — whether through Classical K-pop, which bridges the worlds of BTS and Beethoven, or Minecraft x In C, a music education initiative merging minimalist composition with digital interactivity. Cheng has also collaborated with Justice Desk Africa, a South African human rights organization inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy, using music as a tool for healing, empowerment, and cross-cultural understanding.
In addition to his work on the podium, Cheng composes and produces interdisciplinary performances that fuse sound, movement, and visual storytelling. Often developed in collaboration with dancers, technologists, and visual artists, his work has been featured at venues such as the Berliner Festspiele, the Singapore Art Museum, the Steirischer Herbst Festival, and the Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center. These projects explore themes of presence, memory, and transformation, creating experiences that move across the boundaries of genre and tradition.
Cheng’s artistic leadership is shaped by a simple question: how can an orchestra be of greatest service to its community? Whether through interdisciplinary programming, school partnerships, or creative audience engagement, his work reflects a belief in music as a shared space for connection, reflection, and imagination.
He studied at Georgia State University, the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, and the University of the Arts in Berlin.
About Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, founded by Music Director J. Wayne Baughman, provides world-class musical enrichment for the community of Johns Creek through concert series performances, as well as additional educational programs and special events each year. Now approaching its 19th season, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional symphonic orchestra composed of professional musicians from all over the greater metro Atlanta area. To learn more about Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, please visit www.johnscreeksymphony.org.
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Season Sponsors!
