Tech Executive Makes $400,000 Dream Come True by Conducting Toronto Symphony

At Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra members prepared for a rendition of Mahler’s renowned “Resurrection” Symphony. Suddenly, the stage door opened, revealing the evening’s conductor.

This was no famed maestro or formally trained musician. Instead, it was Mandle Cheung, a 78-year-old technology executive who invested nearly $400,000 for the unique opportunity to lead the orchestra for one night.

A devoted admirer of classical music since youth, Cheung once played in a high school harmonica band and has experimented with conducting over the years. His passion and determination convinced the orchestra to grant him the chance to realize his longtime ambition.

Cheung, chairman and CEO of ComputerTalk Technology based in Toronto, explained, “I had watched countless videos and listened to numerous recordings. I witnessed the magic of the conductor standing before the orchestra with his baton. I thought, ‘Why not me?’”

He added, “I have the means to make it happen, so when the idea came to me, I decided to take a shot at it.”