01/05/2026
The Ozark Music Festival is pleased to announce the appointment of Henry Cheng as Principal Conductor for its 2026 season. Cheng, an internationally recognized conductor known for artistic excellence and imaginative programming, will lead the festival as it enters its second year of orchestral training and performance in Northwest Arkansas.
The 2026 Ozark Music Festival will take place June 9–21, 2026, welcoming approximately 20 professional classical musicians and 100 college-aged musicians to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a two-week intensive orchestral experience. The festival will feature rigorous orchestral and chamber music training alongside public chamber and orchestra concerts presented in venues throughout the Northwest Arkansas region. Additional details about the 2026 season are available at ozarkmusic.org.
Winner of the Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition and the European Union Conducting Competition, Henry Cheng has led performances across Europe, Asia, and North America with ensembles including the La Scala Chamber Orchestra and the Tongyeong International Music Festival Ensemble. He is also the newly appointed Music Director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, beginning with the 2025–2026 season. His work often reimagines the concert experience through innovative projects such as Classical K-pop and Minecraft x In C, which connect classical music with contemporary culture and digital platforms.
Cheng is deeply committed to music as a vehicle for community engagement and social impact. He has collaborated with Justice Desk Africa, a South African human rights organization inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy, and frequently creates interdisciplinary performances that blend music with movement and visual storytelling. His work has been presented at international venues including the Berliner Festspiele, Singapore Art Museum, and Steirischer Herbst Festival. Cheng studied at Georgia State University, the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, and the University of the Arts in Berlin.
