David Finckel and Wu Han

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, Musical America’s Musicians of the Year, are among today’s most distinguished classical artists. Their careers encompass world-class performances, acclaimed recordings, and visionary artistic direction. From New York to concert halls across the US, Europe, and Asia, they captivate global audiences. Their repertoire includes classical standards, contemporary commissions, and nearly the entire chamber music literature for cello and piano. As artistic directors, they curate more than 300 concerts annually.

In 1997, Finckel and Han founded ArtistLed, the first internet-based, artist-controlled classical recording label. With over 20 acclaimed releases, ArtistLed features both standard works and new repertoire.

Since 2004, Finckel and Han have been the Artistic Directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), the world’s largest chamber music presenter. During their tenure, the organization has significantly expanded its reach, enhancing its offerings in performances, educational programs, and recordings. They produced more than 270 digital events during the pandemic, sustaining chamber music communities nationwide.

As founders and Artistic Directors of Music@Menlo since 2002, they have established the festival as a model of innovative programming and educational excellence. The festival label, Music@Menlo LIVE, has released over 130 high-quality CDs.

Dedicated to music education, Finckel and Wu Han transformed the CMS Two Program into the Bowers Program, which supports exceptional young musicians. They also lead the Chamber Music Institute at Music@Menlo and taught at the Isaac Stern Chamber Music Encounters in Israel, New York, and Japan. Their website offers a unique, free resource for students and arts organizations.

Wu Han, born in Taiwan, serves as Artistic Advisor for Wolf Trap and the Society of the Four Arts. She was appointed Artistic Director of La Musica in Sarasota in 2022. David Finckel, originally from New Jersey, was the first American student of Mstislav Rostropovich and is the former cellist of the Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet. He currently teaches at the Juilliard School and Stony Brook University.

Finckel and Han, married in 1985, divide their time between touring, New York City, and Westchester County.