Isaac Chan is a graduate of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, and currently reading Music at Clare College, Cambridge. He is the principal horn of the flagship Cambridge University Orchestra, and is one of the conducting scholars designate from 2024-25, working with the symphony orchestra and wind orchestra of Cambridge University.
He started studying the horn at age 7, subsequently attending the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts studying under Mr Homer Lee. He has played with the Pro Arte Orchestra of Hong Kong, and as principal horn with many major youth orchestras in Hong Kong; in Manchester, he has performed all over the country with his resident El Losto Brass Quintet aside from solo work. In 2023 he was awarded the Birchall Memorial Prize for Brass for his work in solo and ensemble playing.
At age 14, he began his studies in conducting with Mr Ho-man Choi, leading to him becoming a conductor at the Ying Wa College Orchestra in 2020. Since joining Chetham’s School of Music, he has founded the Chetham’s Camerata, a entrepreneurial chamber orchestra that has tackled challenging repertoire (Soldier’s Tale, Siegfried-Idyll, Beethoven 5 etc.). He has worked with and been mentored by renowned conductors such as Sian Edwards, Grant Llewellyn, Colin Metters, Graham Ross, Timothy Redmond and Gyorgy Rath.
Through conducting Isaac has developed an avid interest in opera. He founded the Chetham’s Operetta, where he directed and conducted his opera debut of Hansel and Gretel in 2022, and conducts opera scenes every season since. Recently he directed and conducted a re-conception of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni at Clare College Chapel, as well as premiering a new opera The Seashell with the Cambridge University Opera Society. He was recently also repetiteur for Faust et Helene (Lili Boulanger) the rediscovery of the opera Uriel Acosta (Valentina Serova).
He is also an active collaborative pianist, enjoying chamber repertoire for all instruments, especially lieder and opera.
His work in conducting and arranging has brought in collaboration with Steinway (and Sons) Hall UK, the Halle Orchestra (Brass section), the William Walton Foundation, Hertfordshire Opera and the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. He also keenly writes orchestrations and arrangements (particularly for brass).
While away from music, Isaac has a strong interest in literature and calligraphy, and particularly enjoys jogging along the harbour in Hong Kong or the British countryside (though he finds playing La Boheme at the piano equally enjoyable!).