Conductor Laureate of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, having completed his 19-year tenure as Music Director in summer 2014, David Zinman has held positions as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony orchestras and more recently at the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, Principal Conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Distinguished Visiting Artist at the Eastman School of Music, and Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival, School and American Academy of Conducting.

The 2019/20 season included appearances with hr Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, as well as Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana and Dresdner Philharmonie. Zinman also returned to conduct the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich.

He has long-standing collaborations with soloists such as Mitsuko Uchida, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, Radu Lupu, Truls Mørk, Lisa Batiashvili, Gil Shaham, Julia Fischer, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax and András Schiff.

In addition to his guest conducting engagements, Zinman also gives regularly world-renowned masterclasses which he began as part of his tenture in Zurich – most recently students at the Sibelius Academy and Royal Academy of Music have benefitted from his expertise as a teacher and coach. Last season included masterclasses in collaboration with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Orchestre National de Lyon.

David Zinman's extensive discography of more than 100 recordings has earned him numerous international honours, particularly for his interpretation of Beethoven’s symphonies with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, including five Grammy awards, two Grand Prix du Disque, two Edison Prizes, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis and a Gramophone Award. Recent releases include a 50 CD box set David Zinman: Great Symphonies – The Zurich Years, which commemorates his recording legacy with the Tonhalle-Orchester.

In 2000 the French Ministry of Culture awarded David Zinman the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in October 2002 the City of Zürich Art Prize was awarded to him for his outstanding artistic efforts - making him the first conductor and first non-Swiss recipient of this award. More recently, Zinman received the prestigious Theodore Thomas Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and extraordinary service to one's colleagues in advancing the art and science of conducting. In 2008 he won the Midem Classical Artist of the Year award for his work with the Tonhalle- Orchester Zürich. He was also the 1997 recipient of the prestigious Ditson Award from Columbia University in recognition of his exceptional commitment to the performance of works by American composers.