David & Wu Han

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han are recognized worldwide as two of the most distinguished and influential figures in classical music. In recognition of their exceptional artistry and leadership, they jointly received Musical America’s Musician of the Year Award for their transformative impact on the field of chamber music. Their multi-faceted musical lives encompass acclaimed performances, acclaimed recordings and visionary artistic direction. From New York’s concert stages to the premier concert halls across the United States, Europe and Asia, they have captivated audiences around the globe.

Their repertoire spans the classical canon for cello and piano, includes commissioned works from contemporary composers, and covers virtually the entire chamber music literature for their instruments. As artistic directors of several major arts organizations, they collaboratively curate more than 300 concerts each year, shaping the chamber music landscape.

Since 2004, David Finckel and Wu Han have served as Artistic Directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), the largest presenter and producer of chamber music in the world. As the longest-serving artistic directors in CMS’s history, they have expanded the organization’s reach, drawing more people to chamber music through its performances, education initiatives, and recording and broadcast activities than any other institution of its kind.

They were recently appointed Co-Artistic Directors of South Mountain Concerts in Massachusetts, one of the nation’s most historic and cherished chamber music series. Their artistic leadership also extends to The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, where they shape a distinguished chamber music program, and to La Musica in Sarasota, where Wu Han serves as Artistic Director.

Beyond the concert stage, David Finckel and Wu Han founded ArtistLed, the first internet-based, artist-controlled classical recording label. With a catalog of over 20 releases, ArtistLed showcases both the standard cello and piano repertoire, and new works composed for the duo by George Tsontakis, Gabriela Lena Frank, Bruce Adolphe, Lera Auerbach, Edwin Finckel, Augusta Read Thomas, and Pierre Jalbert.

Their latest release this fall of Beethoven’s Piano Trios, is a landmark new recording project bringing together six of today’s leading violinists – Benjamin Beilman, Chad Hoopes, Paul Huang, Kristin Lee, Arnaud Sussmann and Danbi Um.

Artistic Directors Laureate of Silicon Valley’s Music@Menlo, David Finckel and Wu Han founded the festival and shaped it into a model of innovative thematic programming and educational excellence, earning international acclaim. Music@Menlo’s dedicated recording label, Music@Menlo LIVE, has released more than 130 audiophile-quality CDs.

Passionately dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians, the duo was instrumental in transforming the CMS Two Program into today’s Bowers Program, which admits exceptional young musicians to the CMS roster for a term of three seasons. They are the proud founders of the Chamber Music Institute at Music@Menlo. Alumni of the Institute have gone on to establish more than 40 chamber music festivals and organizations across the globe, extending the Institute’s impact to every corner of the world. Wu Han also serves as Artistic Advisor of the Musicians Advocacy Fund, dedicated to supporting extraordinary young musicians and nonprofit organizations.

David Finckel and Wu Han married in 1985 and divide their time between touring and residences in New York City and Westchester County.