Euan Shields

Euan Shields is a conductor dedicated to using music as a way of connecting people across cultures and communities. His work is guided by a belief in the power of shared performance to build understanding, foster collaboration, and create meaningful experiences for audiences and musicians alike. Whether on international stages or in community settings, Shields seeks to inspire collective artistry and dialogue through music.

Born in Japan and raised in the United States, Shields has pursued an international career that reflects both his diverse background and collaborative spirit. In 2023 he was awarded the Siemens Hallé International Conducting Competition, which led to his current role as Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra and Music Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra. The following year he received second prize at the Korean National Symphony Orchestra International Conducting Competition in Seoul. He has also been supported by the Solti Foundation with their Career Assistance Award for three consecutive years (2023 to 2025).

In the 2025 to 2026 season, Shields will debut with the Düsseldorf Symphoniker, New Japan Philharmonic, and Osaka Symphony Orchestra. His recent guest appearances include performances with The Hallé, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, South Denmark Philharmonic, Biel Solothurn Symphony Orchestra, Gstaad Festival Orchestra, Juilliard Lab Orchestra, and Juilliard’s AXIOM Ensemble. He also continues his close work with the Hallé and Hallé Youth Orchestra, leading eight programs this coming year.

Shields studied orchestral conducting at The Juilliard School under David Robertson, earning his Master of Music in 2023. Before Juilliard, he completed his Bachelor of Music at UCLA, supported by the Peter Falk Scholarship, studying cello with Antonio Lysy and conducting with Neal Stulberg.

His musical path began on the cello in Tokyo at age eight, later bringing him to the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra during high school. There he discovered his passion for conducting, founding the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra with peers and organizing nine public concerts across the city with ensembles of 20 to 30 performers. This early experience continues to shape his collaborative approach and commitment to community building through music.