conductor
Christopher James Lees resident conductor
Christopher James Lees was named Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony in 2018.
Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees is becoming widely recognized for his passionate and nuanced orchestral performances, his fierce commitment to contemporary music, and his natural charisma in front of audiences around the world. In 2018, Mr. Lees began an appointment as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. He curates and conducts more than 70 performances a year, including on the Family and Pops series, Education concerts, and the Symphony’s popular On Tap series at Charlotte-area breweries. Mr. Lees made his subscription debut with the orchestra in October 2019. An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has returned for performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic and the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, & Flint Symphonies, as well as debuts with the Indianapolis, Kansas City, Toledo, and Vermont Symphonies. Additional engagements have taken him to the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra de Chambre de Paris, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and at the Music in the Mountains Festival & Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil. Only the second American Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Lees made his debut with the orchestra in April 2013 and returned for concerts in February 2015. With the New York Philharmonic and St. Louis Symphony, among others, Mr. Lees has served as an assistant conductor for the world’s leading conductors, including: Gustavo Dudamel, Paavo Järvi, Herbert Blomstedt, Leonard Slatkin, David Robertson, Robert Spano, Marin Alsop, Pablo Heras-Casado, Stéphane Denève, Susanna Mälkki, and Nicholas McGegan. Music Director Robert Spano named Mr. Lees winner of both the 2011 James Conlon Conducting Prize and the 2012 Aspen Conducting Prizes at the Aspen Music Festival and School.
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