Eugene Kohn, born in New York City, is an American pianist and conductor whose career began with piano studies at age five. He gained early recognition as a rehearsal pianist for opera stars such as Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti, and studied under conductors Fausto Cleva, Thomas Schippers, and Erich Leinsdorf. Kohn began conducting regularly under the Metropolitan Opera in 1980, leading to engagements at the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, and the Bonn Opera, where he served as principal guest conductor from 1992 to 1997. He was music director of the Puerto Rico Symphony from 1994 to 2001 and later became Music Director Emeritus. He conducted recordings with Plácido Domingo, including the EMI Award‑winning Roman Heroes.
