Malaysian-born Tengku Irfan has appeared around the world as a conductor, pianist, and composer. He made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Juilliard Orchestra in April 2024. He was invited as a guest conductor with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and was the assistant conductor of NYO-USA, working alongside eminent conductor Sir Andrew Davis. Through his work as a conductor, he is the recipient of the Bayreuth Stipendium Award and runner-up and audience prize winner of the 2021 Los Angeles Conducting Competition. He also worked as assistant and cover conductor for David Robertson, JoAnn Falletta, Jörg Widmann, Simone Young, and Speranza Scappucci. He recently finished his Masters of Music in orchestral conducting with David Robertson. As part of the commencement, he was the inaugural recipient of the Robert Craft Igor Stravinsky Grant in Orchestral Conducting. He was a proud recipient of the Juilliard School Kovner Fellowship Award. Currently, he is the founder and music director of his own group, Ensemble Fantasque, promoting works from the 20th and 21st centuries, and underperformed pieces from earlier time periods.

Schedule

MALAYSIAN PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA (OCTOBER 8 2025)

Lee Si Yuan - Adventurous Spirit (World Premiere)

Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

Sibelius - Violin Concerto: 1st movement

Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in G Major

Tengku Irfan, conductor

Ham Kay Lyn, violin

8 October 2025, 8pm, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas

Tickets here

CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS AT JULIETTE MUSIC AND ARTS ACADEMY (OCTOBER 11 2025)

Tengku Irfan leads conducting masterclass centered around Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring. Open to public

11 October 2025, 10am, Juliette Music & Arts Academy

Tickets and event info here

CONTEMPORARY CONDUCTING WORKSHOP AT YST (OCTOBER 13 2025)

Tengku Irfan leads a conducting masterclass, guiding YST student composers on conducting their own chamber compositions. The session is open to the public to attend and observe.

13 October 2025, 7:30pm

Steven Baxter Recital Studio at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music

Tickets and info here