He studied at the Juilliard School while simultaneously majoring in philosophy and languages (he speaks six) at Columbia University. He has conducted the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Calgary Philharmonic and the Winnipeg Symphony, as well as orchestras in Oregon, San Antonio, Omaha, Columbus (Ohio), Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa (California) Colorado and Austin.

The program for the upcoming Houston Symphony concerts includes Steven Stucky's Son et Lumiere and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, with soloist Joyce Yang, the silver medalist of the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.