Hailed by the Boston Phoenix as “…both an inspired conductor…and an inspired programmer,” Courtney Lewis is quickly becoming recognized as one of today’s top emerging talents. He is founder and music director of Boston’s acclaimed Discovery Ensemble, a chamber orchestra with the mission of introducing inner-city school children to classical music while bringing new and unusual repertoire to established concert audiences. Lewis has also recently been promoted to associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he regularly conducts Young People’s concerts, outdoor concerts, and other performances, making his subscription debut in the 2011/12 season.
In November 2008 Lewis made his major American orchestra debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, leading a series of five concerts. He subsequently spent several weeks assisting conductors David Robertson and Marc Albrecht. Other recent and upcoming appearances include returns to the St. Louis Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra (for a series of BBC Radio 3 Invitation Concerts) and debuts with the Sewanee and New Hampshire Music Festivals as well as the RTE National Symphony (Ireland). Appointed a Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2011/12 season, he makes his debut with that orchestra in fall 2011, returning for additional performances in the spring. Spring 2013 also includes his subscription debut with the Ulster Orchestra. ...
read full bioHailed by the Boston Phoenix as “…both an inspired conductor…and an inspired programmer,” Courtney Lewis is quickly becoming recognized as one of today’s top emerging talents. He is founder and music director of Boston’s acclaimed Discovery Ensemble, a chamber orchestra with the mission of introducing inner-city school children to classical music while bringing new and unusual repertoire to established concert audiences. Lewis has also recently been promoted to associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he regularly conducts Young People’s concerts, outdoor concerts, and other performances, making his subscription debut in the 2011/12 season.
In November 2008 Lewis made his major American orchestra debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, leading a series of five concerts. He subsequently spent several weeks assisting conductors David Robertson and Marc Albrecht. Other recent and upcoming appearances include returns to the St. Louis Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra (for a series of BBC Radio 3 Invitation Concerts) and debuts with the Sewanee and New Hampshire Music Festivals as well as the RTE National Symphony (Ireland). Appointed a Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2011/12 season, he makes his debut with that orchestra in fall 2011, returning for additional performances in the spring. Spring 2013 also includes his subscription debut with the Ulster Orchestra.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Lewis attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied composition with Robin Holloway and clarinet with Dame Thea King, graduating at the top of his year with starred first class honors. After completing a master’s degree with a focus on the late music of György Ligeti, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music, where his teachers included Sir Mark Elder and Clark Rundell.
Last updated November 2011. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.
