Edo de Waart (born 1 June 1941) is a Dutch conductor of symphony orchestras and opera . He is the chief conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera and music director designate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. De Waart was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he studied oboe, piano and conducting at the Sweelinck Conservatory, graduating in 1962. The following year, he was appointed associate principal oboe of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.