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 appointed assistant conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he will regularly conduct Young People’s concerts, outdoor concerts, and other performances.
Previous appointments have included a two-year tenure as Zander Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, a prestigious conducting apprenticeship under the ensemble’s music director, Benjamin Zander. In addition to his work with the Boston Philharmonic, he assisted Zander with the London Philharmonia, Toronto Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony and Símon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela ... read full bio
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 appointed assistant conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he will regularly conduct Young People’s concerts, outdoor concerts, and other performances.
Previous appointments have included a two-year tenure as Zander Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, a prestigious conducting apprenticeship under the ensemble’s music director, Benjamin Zander. In addition to his work with the Boston Philharmonic, he assisted Zander with the London Philharmonia, Toronto Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony and Símon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela.
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. In recent seasons he has also worked with the BBC Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony and Liverpool Mozart Orchestras, as well as smaller groups including the Nash Ensemble and Alban Berg Ensemble. In April 2010 he appears as guest conductor with the Lexington (Mass.) Symphony.
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.
