Watch recording of Lunch with the League: South Bend’s Symphony
Published on 9/10/2022
Recording link: https://youtu.be/P69TCqLX0mE
Conductor and Music Director Alastair Willis will provide insights into the South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s 90th anniversary season, with a look back at the SBSO’s glorious history in South Bend.
Speaker Bio: Alastair Willis is the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Symphonia Boca Raton. Aside from his current position, Mr. Willis has guest conducted around the world including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and Qatar Philharmonic, and has toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s award-winning Silk Road Ensemble. 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. 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 Master of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Willis lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.