The 2026 Taipei Music Academy & Festival (TMAF) will take place in July next year, bringing together an extraordinary roster of world-class artists from top symphony orchestras and conservatories, alongside outstanding young musicians from around the globe.
Dedicated to nurturing young artists between the ages of 16 and 28, TMAF provides a one-of-a-kind environment for artistic growth and performance. Since its founding in 2019, the festival has served as a cradle for emerging talent. Now entering its eighth season, TMAF has built an international reputation for excellence. The 2025 program saw a record number of applicants, with accepted participants hailing from leading music schools worldwide—many of them prizewinners in prestigious international competitions or rising professionals already performing with major orchestras.
Every great master was once a “rising star.” At TMAF, students receive direct mentorship from distinguished artists, standing on the shoulders of giants as they take their next steps toward the world stage.
In 2026, eighteen internationally acclaimed musicians will gather in Taipei, including:
David Chan, Artistic Director of TMAF and former Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; the internationally renowned conductor Hans Graf, Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; Nurit Bar-Josef, Concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra (USA); Alexander Kerr, Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Jonathan Vinocour, Principal Viola of the San Francisco Symphony; Ben Hong, Associate Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Wei Yu, Principal Cello of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Scott Pingel, Principal Bass of the San Francisco Symphony; Emily Beynon, Principal Flute of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Jelena Dirks, Principal Oboe of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; Boris Allakhverdyan, Principal Clarinet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; William Short, Principal Bassoon of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Katy Woolley, Principal Horn of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Thomas Hooten, Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
TMAF will also feature distinguished faculty from leading conservatories, including violinists Ju-Young Baek (Professor at Seoul National University), Koichiro Harada (Professor at Toho Gakuen School of Music and Manhattan School of Music) and violist Ori Kam (Professor at University of Geneva and University of Music and Performing Arts Graz).
photo(c)SSO / Bryan van der Beek
The festival’s comprehensive curriculum includes private lessons, chamber music coaching, master classes, mock auditions, orchestral rehearsals, seminars, and a series of public performances featuring both chamber and orchestral repertoire. Designed to mirror the rigor and artistry of professional symphony orchestras, TMAF provides participants with invaluable real-world experience.
“TMAF’s uniqueness lies not only in its world-class faculty and students,” said Artistic Director David Chan, “but also in the interaction between them. Here, faculty and students work side by side as musicians—learning, growing, and creating lasting bonds through the shared pursuit of excellence.”
CEO Shih-Kai Lin added, “TMAF provides an amazing showcase for the extraordinary development of musical talent that is taking place in Taiwan. But TMAF goes beyond representing the accomplishment of Taiwanese musicians — it is a unique opportunity to share the richness of our culture.”
Applications for the 2026 Taipei Music Academy & Festival are open until February 10, 2026. Young musicians aged 16 to 28 are invited to apply. For full details and audition repertoire, please visit the official website.
