François Koh
Dr. François Koh is an award-winning conductor and classical guitarist, praised by Jonathan Crow, Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra:
“His enthusiasm and evident love for the music is inspirational for the orchestra, and his ability to elevate and work with musicians of all levels comes through clearly in the rehearsal process.”
A Heinz Unger Conducting Award nominee, Dr. Koh holds a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from McGill University and a Doctorate from the University of Toronto, earned with a full scholarship. He won the 2023 International Conductors Workshop and Competition (2023, Atlanta, USA) and was a semi-finalist in the Ionel Perlea International Conducting Competition (2023, Slobozia, Romania). In 2022, he was a semi-finalist for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor position and, in 2023, a finalist for the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director position. He has conducted acclaimed performances with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra (2019, Hungary, Bartók Festival), Filarmonica de Stat Târgu Mureș (2014, Romania), Ensemble Paramirabo (2012, Montreal, Canada), and Ensemble Dal Niente (USA).
From 2015 to 2022, Dr. Koh served as Music Director of the Georgian Bay Symphony, where his visionary leadership elevated the orchestra’s artistic profile and community engagement, earning the Ontario Arts Council’s 2017 Vida Peene Orchestra Award for excellence. An international force in orchestral music, he founded the Ensemble Orchestral de Dijon (2004–2006, Dijon, France) and the Vancouver Camerata (2007–2011, Vancouver, Canada), demonstrating a commitment to building vibrant and innovative ensembles. His operatic experience includes work with Opera Appassionata as assistant conductor and his debut with the North Shore Light Opera Society (2007–2009), conducting Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience and Iolanthe.
Currently based in Toronto, Dr. Koh is the Founder and Artistic Director of Salon de Musique Canada (2024–current), a concert series that unites classical tradition with contemporary Canadian artistry. His former professors and mentors include Uri Mayer, Alexis Hauser, Jean Sebastian Béreau, Pierre Cao, Konrad von Abel, Johannes Schlaefli, David Briskin, Zsolt Hamar, Adrian Gnam, Philip Greenberg, and Frank Klassen.
A passionate advocate for Canadian contemporary and Indigenous-inspired music, Dr. Koh’s artistic mission is to bridge cultures and generations through orchestral art, fostering accessibility, inclusivity, and inspiration in every performance.