Alastair Willis, Conductor
Grammy nominated conductor ALASTAIR WILLIS is the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Symphonia Boca Raton.
“The music (Strauss Till Eulenspiegel) describing the life and gallows death of a legendary trickster, is full of theatrical gestures, and Willis savored every one of them. For all his attention to detail — and his accurate rendering of tempo indications that are often fudged — this was also a red-blooded, impetuous and deliciously over-the-top performance.”
Mike Greenberg,
San Antonio Express News
In past seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.
Last season Willis was re-engaged by the Chicago Symphony, Qatar Philharmonic, and Salute to Vienna, and made his Vienna debut with the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra. This season he returns to the Qatar Philharmonic and Salute to Vienna and makes his debut with Vienna’s Imperial Philharmonic.
“Physically expressive, Willis challenged the orchestra, demanding — and getting — exceptionally focused attention to phrasing. Friday’s sound was anything but “as usual,” the texture less blended than mosaic, each line standing out clearly.”
Ruth Bingham,
Honolulu Advertiser
Previous positions include Music Director of the Illinois Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an Education degree from Kingston University, and a Masters of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Willis currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.
Updated August 2023