Florida’s La Musica International Chamber Music Festival Appoints New Artistic Director 

Taiwanese-American pianist, educator, and arts leader Wu Han, will assume the role for the next three years 

(Photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)

Wu Han succeeds Bruno Giuranna as artistic director of the La Musica International Chamber Music Festival, who co-founded La Musica in 1987 and was recently named its artistic director emeritus.

An internationally acclaimed performer, Han is the recipient of Musical America’s Musician of the Year Award and is currently artistic co-director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and [email protected]. She also serves as artistic director for Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music in the Barn series and for Palm Beach’s Society of the Four Arts.

Additionally, Han is the founder and artistic director of ArtistLed, the first artist-directed, internet-based recording label in classical music, through which she has released her performances of standards in the cello-piano duo repertoire with cellist and husband, David Finckel. 

In the past season, Han has created over 200 digital media projects, including concerts and educational programs, which have supported the arts in many communities across the U.S.

“It is an honor to have received the torch of artistic excellence carried so successfully by my beloved friends Derek Han and Bruno Giuranna,” Han said. “The opportunity to build upon their work, in a community so devoted to the arts, is a dream come true. 

“Knowing La Musica as well as I do — from the many times I have appeared at the festival — I can hardly wait to reconnect with this family of musicians and listeners, and to watch it evolve through a growing artist roster and expanded repertoire,” she continued. “I am delighted and humbled to assume the responsibility of taking La Musica into a bright new future, in which there is so much to look forward to.”

“Our La Musica board specifically wanted a leader who would [affect] change in every dimension of our institution and increase our visibility,” added La Musica Board of Directors’ President Bruce Lehman. “We chose Wu Han because of the breadth of her reputation, her commitment to engaging younger musicians and audiences, and her sheer love of the chamber music canon. She has performed in our previous Festivals and we thought her a perfect fit.”

Now in its 37th year, the La Musica International Chamber Music Festival unites top international chamber musicians for performances and has collaborated with other cultural organizations, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Sarasota Film Society, Sarasota Ballet, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Guitar Sarasota.