Leonard Slatkin
Photo by Steve J. Sherman
Bio
Internationally recognized as one of today's leading conductors, Leonard Slatkin is in his eighth season as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra. He is also in his third season as Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. From 1979 to 1996 he was Music Director of the Saint Louis Symphony. Slatkin's more than 100 recordings have been recognized with five Grammy Awards and more than 50 Grammy nominations. He has been a frequent guest conductor of the world's major symphony orchestras, including those of London, New York, Berlin, Vienna, and Los Angeles, and major opera companies such as New York's Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. As part of his continuing commitment to arts education and reaching diverse audiences, Slatkin is the founder and director of the National Conducting Institute and has worked with student orchestras of the country's leading music schools. His many honors include ASCAP awards and an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, The Juilliard School.