Dutch conductor Arjan Tien (*1968) has been appointed Principal Conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa starting from January 2026.

Alongside his new position in Cape Town, Tien will also join Stellenbosch University as Associate Professor, focusing on the training of the next generation of conductors.

Tien is currently professor of conducting at the Conservatories of Amsterdam and Maastricht. Since 2021, he has been Chief Conductor of the VU Orchestra Amsterdam, works regularly with the Netherlands Student Orchestra, and has previously collaborated with the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands (JON).

As Chief Conductor of the Magogo Chamber Orchestra (2006–2012), Tien introduced innovative concert formats and led more than sixty world premieres. Simultaneously, he served as Chief Conductor of the Atheneum Chamber Orchestra at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.