
ABOUT
Tristan Rais-Sherman is known for his emotional directness and clarity on the podium, and is committed to broadening the appeal of classical music by telling human stories in ways that everyone can immediately grasp. His performance of Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Billings Symphony led to an immediate re-invitation for the 2026/27 season, naming him one of the Orchestra's six Music Director Candidates who are competing for the position. At the beginning of the season, he is also returning to the Calgary Philharmonic only one year after making his debut in Canada.
“Everybody should feel welcome in the concert hall. Classical music is not a status symbol. It is live storytelling. Meditation. A transfer of energy.”
- Tristan
These engagements follow a vibrant stretch of activity, including multiple returns to the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, debuts at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and assisting James Gaffigan in a production of Massenet’s Manon at Les Arts Valencia. Rais-Sherman, a four-time recipient of The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, continues to maintain a close artistic connection with The Philadelphia Orchestra after his tenure as Assistant Conductor from 2022 to 2024. He remains a trusted collaborator both on and off the podium, having led performances at the Kimmel Center and Mann Center, and contributed significantly to the orchestra’s educational and public-facing programs. A gifted speaker and storyteller, Rais-Sherman played a central role in launching The Philadelphia Orchestra’s award-winning Orchestra After 5 series, earning praise as an “amiable host” (Philadelphia Inquirer).
Rais-Sherman has established himself as a meaningful bridge between American and Chinese classical music. In 2023, he led The Philadelphia Orchestra to China in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their landmark first tour, debuting at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing alongside The China National Symphony Orchestra — a residency that received widespread international attention, including coverage in The New York Times. He has since developed ongoing artistic relationships with orchestras across the country, including the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, Hohhot Philharmonic, and Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, where he led a complete Beethoven piano concerto cycle. He has also conducted masterclasses at the China Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and lectured at ShanghaiTech University, reflecting a sustained commitment to China’s musical community.
Deeply committed to mentorship and accessibility, Rais-Sherman has led the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen, conducted masterclasses at the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and led educational programs with The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, New York Youth Symphony, and others. He has been engaged as Assistant and Cover Conductor by the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and conducted the Bamberger Symphoniker as a participant of the prestigious Mahler Conducting Competition.
Rais-Sherman is the only conductor to receive an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory and holds degrees from the University of Michigan (MM in Orchestral Conducting) and Ithaca College (BM in Cello Performance). His primary teachers include Hugh Wolff, Kenneth Kiesler, Sian Edwards, and Leif Segerstam.