Meet 2025-26 Conducting Fellow Tristan Rais-Sherman

Tristan Rais-Sherman, a three-time recipient of The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, recently completed his tenure as assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he led performances at the Kimmel Center and Mann Center, helped launch the orchestra’s award-winning Orchestra After 5 series, and conducted the ensemble in Beijing during its historic 2023 China tour. Recent highlights include debuts with the Baltimore Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Hohhot Philharmonic Orchestra, and Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, Rais-Sherman will debut with the Calgary Philharmonic, make his first appearance with the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, and return to both the San Diego Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

What excites you most about joining the San Diego Symphony’s Conducting Fellowship?

Every time I have had the chance to cover or get on the podium in front of the San Diego Symphony, it has been a thrill and a joy. This is an orchestra that is truly world class, and improves every time I hear them. Joining the organization as a Conducting Fellow gives me the opportunity to continue to learn from these extraordinary musicians, and deepen our musical relationship. I think I am most excited to perform Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in February. 

How do you think this fellowship will shape your growth as a conductor and leader?

Becoming a conductor is a marathon, and a process of constant learning and growth. Being able to spend more time in San Diego listening to this orchestra, conducting the orchestra, working alongside Maestro Rafael Payare and other world class artists provides me with priceless opportunities to improve as a musician and human being. 

How do you hope to grow as a musician and leader under the mentorship of Rafael Payare?

I have now had the pleasure of working with Maestro Payare numerous times, not only in San Diego, but in Philadelphia as well. I learn something new from him every time we meet. Whether it is his cool, calm demeanor in rehearsal, or his electrifying intensity in performance, or his friendliness and good humor off the podium—I hope to simply continue to absorb as much as I can from him. I always feel inspired and improved as a musician every time we work together.

Credit: Todd Rosenberg