Symphonia Announces New Conductor

The Symphonia announced that Grammy-nominated musician, Alastair Willis, has been named Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor!

Willis has guest conducted with The Symphonia for the past several seasons, as well as in its second season in 2005, and served as Principal Conductor for the orchestra’s ‘New Directions’ concert series in 2019. He also serves as Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.

Willis has guest conducted a number of premier orchestras around the world, including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma), among others.  

His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with the Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy-nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009. “Alastair is an incredible addition to our orchestra,” said Annabel Russell, Executive Director. “His vibrant, energetic presentations have been so popular with our audiences, and we could not be more thrilled that his passion for classical music will be shared regularly now with our guests.”

‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be invited to be the Symphonia's Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor. It has been a privilege to be part of the Symphonia's rich 15-year history, and I relish the opportunity to help shape its future. It's always a pleasure collaborating with the wonderful Symphonia musicians – I’ve long felt a special connection with them and with our audiences,” Alastair Willis said.

Good luck, Alastair Willis!