Smith College Medalist Elim Chan ’09: ‘I Gained My Courage and Fearlessness at Smith’

Known for her expressive energy and concise movements, Elim Chan ’09 is one of the most sought-after classical music conductors of her generation. In 2014, she became the first woman to win the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, and went on to spend the 2015–16 season as assistant conductor at the London Symphony Orchestra. This launched her international career, and she has since worked with the world’s best orchestras, including serving as the first female principal conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Belgium, between 2019 and 2024 and principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra between 2018 and 2023. Scheduled performances in the 2025/26 season include return engagements with the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre de Paris. Here, Chan, who will be honored with a Smith Medal during Rally Day on Feb. 26, shares her thoughts on lessons she learned at Smith, the progress of women in orchestral music, and her best advice for new graduates.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
“I am very happy and proud that I am working as a conductor after a decade on the podium. I gained my courage and fearlessness at Smith College, and, to this very day, I don’t ever shy away from trying something new. My time at Smith made me stronger, and, I am, therefore, happy to be my authentic self in all that I undertake.”

How has your Smith education continued to impact your life today?
“It opened the world to me. It taught me to always strive to be better and never settle for the obvious, but to keep on pushing—especially against any barriers that others try to put in my way. It enabled me to see all perspectives, which is vital in my work as a conductor, as I must be able to see elements of the music and the orchestra at any given point. It was invaluable in teaching me to trust myself, to be endlessly curious, and not to be afraid of digging deeper for better understanding.”

What would you like to say to seniors who want a career in music?
“Always do the work, as there are no shortcuts in music—you are in it for the long haul and you must love it. Remain curious and flexible in your approach, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.”

What does being honored with the Smith Medal mean to you?
“It is an honor to be recognized with the Smith Medal for my efforts in the world of music and the arts. It is wonderful to be seen in this special way and for my work to be acknowledged by Smith, where I learned so much. It’s so meaningful to me to, hopefully, be seen as a role model for other young women.”

What do you see as major issues today that you would like to see Smithies tackle?
“In a time where hard-won advances for women are being rolled back around the world, it’s vitally important to keep on doing what we do and never give up. It’s important to enable the education of other young women coming through, to build camaraderie and to help other women—and never be tempted to pull the ladder up behind you.”

Why is it critical to support Smith philanthropically?
“In times when public funding is being cut, supporting the education of young women is of vital importance. A good education is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone as it will help to set them up for life.”

Talk about the progress women have made in classical music.
“We started from a low bar, of course. Things are improving, but at a rather sedate pace. All our progress is worthy of being celebrated, however, and conductors of my generation recognize only too well that we stand on the shoulders of the trailblazing women who went before us—Marin Alsop, JoAnn Falletta, and Gisèle Ben-Dor, to name but a few. There is still a lot of work to be done, and we often come up against resistance and fear of what female leadership might mean. The rules that we are expected to follow were originally made by men for men. Now we have the chance to make our own rules as valid leaders in our field.”

What is your best advice for the class of 2026?
“First: Never give up.

Second: Do what you do best—and then do it even better.

Third: Stay curious and open-minded at all times.

And fourth: Support other women and create community.”