James Conlon

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Renowned International Symphonic/Operatic Conductor and Educator
Four-Time Grammy Award-Winning Conductor, LA Opera and Music Director of the Los Angeles Opera Since 2006
Founder of Recovered Voices and advocate for music suppressed under the Nazi Regime
Recipient of the Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest honor

Renowned conductor James Conlon has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire and is one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors and educators. Mr. Conlon has spoken internationally about the power of creativity, the enduring importance of classical music, and leadership insights that resonate across industries.

Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Conlon has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra. He is Music Director of LA Opera, with whom he has won four Grammy Awards and led more performances than any other conductor in the company’s history, and also serves as Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and videography, numerous writings, television appearances and guest speaking engagements, he is one of classical music’s most recognized and prolific figures.

Mr. Conlon is an enthusiastic advocate of the role music plays in our shared humanity and civic life. He has worked to call attention to the works of composers silenced by the Nazi regime – which led to the creation of The OREL Foundation, the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices , and his popular TEDx Talk “Resurrecting Forbidden Music.” Mr. Conlon has received numerous honorary doctorates and accolades including the Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest honor – and was personally inducted by then-President Jacques Chirac.

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Rave Reviews About James Conlon

“

A rock concert of an opera that delivers in every aspect conducted with perfection by James Conlon. [But] what is amazing happens before the opera, a 45-minute lecture by Maestro Conlon that is riveting, educational, and entertaining.

- Michael D. Eisner Chairman and CEO, Walt Disney Company, 1984-2005

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More rave reviews

"Within moments you're on the edge of your seat, not to miss a word of this consummate storyteller as he unravels the intricacies of the plot and the magic of the music. Articulate, totally engaged, enthusiastic, he captures the audience and wraps us in the world we're about to enter. Transcendent"

-Herb Machleder, Emeritus Professor, UCLA

"James Conlon is a supremely effective and inspirational speaker… he captivates his listeners. I have always emerged from one of his talks enriched and energized to dive even more deeply into the material. What is more, he so charms his audiences that they always want to engage with him after his presentations, a supreme compliment to his compelling lectures."

-Rita D. Jacobs, PhD, Professor Emerita of English Montclair University and author of 'The Way In: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery'

"James Conlon should be named the Explainer-in-Chief of Opera. He brings to his talks and speeches the same delicacy, precision and passion he brings to his baton. (He)... is the ideal guide for any musical journey, whether undertaken by novices or cognoscenti."

-Nancy Bachrach, PhD Author of 'The Center of the Universe'

"James Conlon is nothing short of a maestro when it comes to public speaking on classical music. His ability… is truly extraordinary. His lectures… are immersive experiences, making the complex relationships between music, history, and culture accessible and compelling."

-Stacy Brightman, PhD Executive Director, The Ebell of Los Angeles

"He is a master at connecting with public audiences. His accessible style of storytelling is infused with humor, unparalleled expertise, and authenticity. He puts music into context, making it both specific to a time or genre, and universal in what it conveys about our shared humanity."

-Jen Maxcy, Chief Program Officer, Holocaust Museum LA

"Maestro James Conlon is an exceptional speaker who engages his audience and holds it on the edge of its seat. When my wife, Rumiko, first introduced me to James Conlon as a potential speaker for a TED Talk... two words summarized my first impressions: captivating and educating. This was a consummate speaker at the apex of his game. Maestro Conlon is a formidable speaker without doubt in any circumstances."

-Laurent Adamowicz 2010 Senior Fellow of the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard, Wharton MBA, A judge of the Penn Venture Lab Startup Challenge and the Harvard President’s Challenge 2012 - present

"Compelling, gifted, serious, deep but also with humor… James Conlon has spoken to packed houses at the Arts Arena on multiple occasions. Each time, he held the audience spellbound and was also a master of taking and answering questions. The depth of his values, the brilliant content of his talks, and his rare command of delivery left the audience clamoring for more."

-Dr. Margery Arent Safir Founder and Artistic Director, The Arts Arena, Paris

"I have known Maestro Conlon for close to 40 years and have long admired his conducting prowess. He is an exceptional public speaker. The ease and manner in which he delivers his remarks and the way he connects to his audience makes for a most enjoyable, fascinating, and uplifting experience. I am certain anyone who attends one of his talks will leave with a new appreciation for the topic at hand."

-Jeff Alexander President and CEO Chicago Symphony Orchestra

"James Conlon is a master storyteller. His compelling talks blend serious scholarship, personal passion, and engaging details, in a virtuoso performance that leaves his audience hungry for more. Conlon’s talks leave the listener with the gift of his enormous knowledge shared with enthusiasm. The consistent standing-room-only talks before his operatic performances are testament to their popularity."

-Stephanie Barron Senior Curator, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

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James Conlon:"What does a Conductor Actually Do" - Get Sharable Link

Talks & Conversations with James Conlon

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Leadership Lessons from a Conductor of Classical Music

As a conductor whose career has spanned over 50 years, JAMES CONLON illuminates the profound leadership lessons that resonate in business, institutional, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Conductors inspire, direct, listen and follow, lead and guide, simultaneously, all in the service of mus ...

As a conductor whose career has spanned over 50 years, JAMES CONLON illuminates the profound leadership lessons that resonate in business, institutional, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Conductors inspire, direct, listen and follow, lead and guide, simultaneously, all in the service of musical creativity. Mr. Conlon offers expert applications of these ideas to executives, co-workers, and companies navigating the future of a constantly changing world.

Building Unified Teams

In his role as a globally renowned conductor, JAMES CONLON has led some of the most prestigious musical organizations in the world. Sharing stories of success (and failure) from more than 50 years of experience, Mr. Conlon offers insights about how to get a collective of highly diverse (and talented ...

In his role as a globally renowned conductor, JAMES CONLON has led some of the most prestigious musical organizations in the world. Sharing stories of success (and failure) from more than 50 years of experience, Mr. Conlon offers insights about how to get a collective of highly diverse (and talented) individuals on the same page, to identify a common goal, and motivate the group to attain it.

Resurrecting Forbidden Music

Inspired by his impactful TEDx Talk on the subject, renowned conductor JAMES CONLON shares the fascinating story of his work to resurrect the music that was forbidden by the Nazi regime. Jewish musicians and their music were repressed, and the effects are still with us today. Mr. Conlon’s personal j ...

Inspired by his impactful TEDx Talk on the subject, renowned conductor JAMES CONLON shares the fascinating story of his work to resurrect the music that was forbidden by the Nazi regime. Jewish musicians and their music were repressed, and the effects are still with us today. Mr. Conlon’s personal journey started with a chance discovery on the radio and has expanded to broad efforts to bring a voluminous heritage of music to the public’s consciousness.

The Power of Creativity, For Everyone

In this riveting talk, renowned conductor JAMES CONLON reveals the power of creativity – and how anyone can access this power in their work and life. Drawing on his internationally prestigious career in classical music, Mr. Conlon shares how any organization can adopt the successful strategies of a ...

In this riveting talk, renowned conductor JAMES CONLON reveals the power of creativity – and how anyone can access this power in their work and life. Drawing on his internationally prestigious career in classical music, Mr. Conlon shares how any organization can adopt the successful strategies of a quality orchestra – to honor the great traditions of the past and innovate and embrace the future.

Press & Media

James Conlon to retire as Los Angeles Opera music director after 2025-26 season, end 20-year tenure - AP News

James Conlon Conducts New Album, “Shapeshifter: Music of Erwin Schulhoff” - The Violin Channel

La Stampa Interview with James Conlon: “Beethoven is like the Gospel, always new” - La Stampa

National Symphony rises under conductor James Conlon - The Washington Post

L.A. Opera’s James Conlon takes on Verdi, Britten and a health scare - Los Angeles Times

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Biography

James Conlon, one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors, has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic, he has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and videography, numerous writings, television appearances and guest speaking engagements, he is one of classical music’s most recognized and prolific figures. Mr. Conlon is Music Director of LA Opera, where he has led more performances than any other conductor in the company’s history, and Artistic Advisor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He has been Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera; General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany, where he was Music Director of both the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the Cologne Opera; Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (Holland); as well as Principal Conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra (Italy). He has served as Music Director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony; and is now Music Director Laureate of the Cincinnati May Festival, where he was Music Director for 37 years. As a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, he has led more than 270 performances since his 1976 debut.

Mr. Conlon is an enthusiastic advocate of public scholarship and cultural institutions as forums for the exchange of ideas and inquiry into the role music plays in our shared humanity and civic life. At LA Opera, his pre-performance talks draw upon musicology, literary studies, history, and social sciences to contemplate the enduring power and relevance of opera and classical music. He also frequently appears throughout the country as a speaker on a variety of cultural and educational topics, and collaborates with universities, museums, and other cultural institutions, and works with scholars, practitioners, and community members across disciplines. In an effort to call attention to lesser-known works of composers silenced by the Nazi regime, Mr. Conlon has devoted himself to extensive programming of this music throughout Europe and North America. His work on behalf of silenced composers led to the creation of ORELFoundation.com, an invaluable resource on the topic for music lovers, students, musicians, and scholars; the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School; and a recent virtual TEDx Talk titled “Resurrecting Forbidden Music.” Among his numerous prizes are four Grammy® Awards for recordings with LA Opera. Mr. Conlon was named Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, and Commandeur de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. In 2002, he received France’s highest honor, the Legion d’Honneur from then-President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac.

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