Artist Biographies

Christopher James Lees

resident conductor

Christopher James Lees was named Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony in 2018.

Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees brings passionate and nuanced orchestral performances to the stage, a fierce commitment to contemporary music, and a natural charisma to audiences all around the world.

In 2018, Mr. Lees began an appointment as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to the more than 50 annual concert appearances with the CSO, he has stepped in to conduct Subscription Classical performances on four occasions, including a gala weekend with Grammy Award winning artist and Jazz legend Branford Marsalis in May 2021.

An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has returned for performances with the Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, and Flint Symphonies, and conducted 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.

A dedicated advocate for music of our time, Mr. Lees has premiered more than one hundred fifty new works by a diverse range of composers, and collaborated closely with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Caroline Shaw, Roger Reynolds, and Julia Wolfe. An equally passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Lees has brought inspirational energy to student orchestras across the country, from the Colburn School to the New England Conservatory, and previously served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Thorgy Thor

violin

Thorgy Thor first appeared with the Charlotte Symphony in January 2020’s Thorgy and the Thorchestra.

Thorgy Thor is a New York City-based drag performance artist, professional musician, and event host. Since appearing on season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and All Stars season 3, Brooklyn’s fashion clown has been traveling the world, bringing to audiences her trademark wit, sense of humor, and musical charm. In 2018, Thorgy and the Thorchestra made its debut in Halifax, Nova Scotia with two sold out nights and to rave reviews. She has since appeared with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and debuted a solo show at Gramercy Theater in NYC in 2019.

Thorgy has appeared on Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, where she showcased her violin skills in drag. She has also been a repeat guest on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, appearing alongside Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. As a part of the “Haters Roast” and other comedy tours, Thor secured herself as a comedic powerhouse in the world of drag, and also won her a role in a new musical, Oh My God, Broadway, alongside Sally Struthers and Bonnie Milligan.

Thorgy has had the pleasure of playing violin with many recording artists including NYC legend Joey Arias, as well as gracing the stages of Town Hall NYC, Le Poisson Rouge, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.

After studying violin, viola and cello, Thor earned a dual degree in Violin and Viola Performance. While at the Hartt School of Music and Purchase Conservatory, Thorgy also earned an honorary degree in Drag Ridiculousness, performing her original works of art entitled Maitri and Pocket to Pocket. Thor also starred in theater productions of Bad Splices and Psycho Beach Party. Moving to Brooklyn in 2006, Thor exploded in nightclubs, theater projects, street performances, and photo series throughout Brooklyn and NYC. She has since been nominated for numerous awards presented by the Glam Awards, Get Out Awards, Odyssey Magazine Awards, and the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards, winning the LEGEND award and taking home Best Group Show of the Year award at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards and the Glam Awards, respectively.

thorgy.com