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.

Alan Black

cello

Alan Black joined the Charlotte Symphony as Principal Cellist in 1986.

Throughout his career, Alan Black has been actively involved and invested in the musical community in Charlotte, North Carolina as a cellist, teacher, coach, and musical entrepreneur. He is passionately committed to developing projects that create opportunities to support local professional musicians, student musicians, and attract new listeners to great musical experiences.

For the past 35 years Alan has served as the Principal Cellist with the Charlotte Symphony. His performance experience covers the complete spectrum of music, from classical music — including chamber music, solo recitals, and concertos with the Charlotte Symphony — to touring and recording with the indie/folk/ rock group Barnaby Bright. Highlights include performances both as a chamber musician and soloist with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Bobby McFerrin, Van Cliburn Gold Medal pianist Jon Nakamatsu, and fiddler Mark O’Connor.

Alan’s European appearances have included chamber music concerts in Greece, Luxembourg, and piano trio recitals and concerts in Italy, Belgium, and France with violinist Liviu Prunaru, Concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and recording artist and pianist Dana Protopopescu.

During his tenure with the Charlotte Symphony Alan founded and was Artistic Director of Chamber Music at St. Peter’s (1996-2008), Artistic Director of the Davidson College Concert Series (2012-2020), and most recently produced the CSO’s al Fresco outdoor concerts in his backyard pavilion (20202021). He has received several awards in his career, including the prestigious $5,000 Mecklenburg County Arts & Science Council Fellowship in 1997 and an Emerging Artists grant in 1990. In 2001 he was honored by The Charlotte Observer for his contribution to the arts community as Founder of Chamber Music at St. Peter’s, and in 2001 he also received the Spirit Award, an award given by the Charlotte Mint Museum and Royal & SunAlliance to recognize those whose involvement and commitment to the arts contributed significantly to the quality of life in Charlotte.

Mr. Black performs on a 1995 Moes & Moes cello, originally built for and owned by Yo-Yo Ma. This cello was used by Mr. Ma in the HBO documentary The Music of Strangers.