Today's Featured Artist: Michael Palmer, conductor - The Brandenburg Affair
Who is Maestro Michael Palmer?
Michael Palmer is the Artistic Director of the Bellingham Festival of Music and also holds the esteemed position of the Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University.
He has long been considered one of this country's finest conductors. Mr. Palmer began his career at age 21, when he came to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as assistant conductor at the invitation of Robert Shaw. He was soon made associate conductor, and also founded and was music director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. While in Atlanta, Mr Palmer was honored as one of five of the first conductors in the United States chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts to be Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor, and he was soon in demand with orchestras throughout the country. While continuing in his post in Atlanta, he was appointed guest conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra for a three-year period. He also worked extensively with the National Symphony Orchestra during this period, and he was, subsequently, named co-principal guest conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
After 10 years in Atlanta as associate conductor, Mr. Palmer accepted appointments as music director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra followed by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. In 1994 Carnegie Hall invited Michael Palmer and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to make their New York debut on its distinguished Visiting Orchestra Series. During his tenure as music director in New Haven, Mr. Palmer founded the American Sinfonietta, which toured Europe for 10 seasons under his leadership, playing to critical acclaim in the major concert halls of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This led to the creation of the Bellingham Festival of Music in 1993. Under his artistic leadership, the Festival has become internationally recognized for its artistry. Festival concerts are heard across the nation on NPR and feature some of the finest orchestral musicians and major guest artists from the United States and abroad. As Artistic Director since its formation, Mr. Palmer continues to lead the Festival each summer, having just wrapped up his 22nd season. He also maintains an active international guest conducting career each year.
Maestro Palmer also balances his performing career with his dedication to preserving and promoting the legacy of classical music for tomorrow’s generation. In 2009, he co-founded Anacrusis Productions Ltd. where he holds the position of Artistic Director.
Why is The Brandenburg Affair so special to Maestro Palmer?
"The Brandenburg Concertos are among the greatest works of musical art. They stand at the pinnacle of Bach’s orchestral repertoire. The opportunity to perform all of them in one evening and in an intimate social setting with a virtuoso ensemble is rare and important in any conductor’s experience. I invite you to join me for this unique and special live artistic event."
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