The Georgia State School of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Henry Cheng as Visiting Conductor-in-Residence beginning in Fall 2025. In this role, Cheng will lead the GSU Symphony Orchestra and direct the Master of Music orchestral conducting studio during the fall semester.
Cheng returns to Georgia State with deep roots and an international reputation. “I’m honored to return to Georgia State University, where I first began studying conducting and to step in during Professor Tamara Dworetz’s leave,” he shared. “She, along with the faculty and staff, is building something truly meaningful here and I’m grateful for the chance to support that work. It’s exciting to engage with students at such a formative point in their artistic journey and to be part of a team that leads with both excellence and care.”
Beginning in the 2025–2026 season, Cheng will also serve as Music Director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra. He is an internationally recognized conductor and composer whose work brings together musical excellence, cultural curiosity and a deep commitment to community. Winner of the Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition and the European Union Conducting Competition, he has led performances across Europe, Asia and North America with ensembles including the La Scala Chamber Orchestra and the Tonyeong International Music Festival Ensemble.
His innovative projects often reimagine the concert experience — from Classical K-pop, bridging BTS and Beethoven, to Minecraft x In C, an educational initiative blending minimalist music with digital interactivity. He has also partnered with Justice Desk Africa, a South African human rights organization inspired by Nelson Mandela, to use music as a platform for healing and social change.
Cheng’s creative scope extends beyond the podium. As a composer and producer, he crafts interdisciplinary performances that fuse sound, movement and visual storytelling, showcased in venues such as the Berliner Festspiele, the Singapore Art Museum and the Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center. His work is driven by a guiding question: how can an orchestra be of greatest service to its community?
Reflecting on his return to Georgia State, Cheng said, “When I was a student at GSU, I remember what it felt like to walk into rehearsals unsure if I belonged or had anything meaningful to say through music. What changed everything was the mentorship and encouragement I received — that sense of being invited to grow. That’s the kind of space I hope to help create now: one where students feel seen, challenged and supported as they find their own artistic voice.”
Dr. Tamara Dworetz, who has led the orchestra program since 2022, expressed her enthusiasm for the interim appointment:
“I am absolutely thrilled that Henry Cheng will be serving as my maternity leave substitute as Director of Orchestras, leading the GSU Symphony and teaching the MM orchestral conducting studio. Henry is a consummate artist, a mover and shaker and a community builder. I’m so excited about his move to Atlanta as the new Music Director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and I’m delighted that GSU students will have the opportunity to work with and learn from him almost as soon as he arrives. I’m incredibly grateful to Henry Cheng for stepping in during this important time!”
Cheng holds degrees from Georgia State University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of the Arts in Berlin. His return marks a full-circle moment and a powerful opportunity for students to learn from an accomplished conductor with a global perspective. His appointment exemplifies Georgia State's College to Career initiative—showcasing how alumni can return as industry leaders to mentor and prepare students for success in their professional lives.