Christopher James Lees Extends Contract As Resident Conductor of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has announced that Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees has extended his contract through the  end of the 2028–29 season.  

Lees joined the Charlotte Symphony as Assistant Conductor in 2016 and was appointed Resident Conductor in 2018. Since then, he has become a cornerstone of the organization, conducting around 70 performances each season. He leads the Orchestra's popular Movie and Family Series and appears occasionally on the Classical Series. Lees has also conducted several high-profile  special events, including Gala performances with Grammy Award-winning artists Branford  Marsalis and Rhiannon Giddens.  

Lees is a leading presence in the Symphony's community engagement initiatives. He conducts CSO Roadshow performances — bringing live orchestral music directly to neighborhoods across  the region with the Symphony's mobile stage — and On Tap, which features intimate  performances in local breweries. He also frequently leads the beloved Summer Pops concerts at  Symphony Park, drawing thousands of attendees each year.  

“I feel overjoyed to be continuing on as Resident Conductor with the Charlotte Symphony,” said  Christopher James Lees. “This city is my home, and the phenomenal and indefatigable musicians  of the CSO have become my musical family. I am deeply grateful to continue our work together, alongside Music Director Kwamé Ryan, as we consistently create transformative musical  experiences for every person in our treasured community.” 

“We are incredibly fortunate, both as a Symphony and as a community, to have Christopher  James Lees with us,” said Music Director Kwamé Ryan. “His exceptional skills on the podium  are complemented by his enthusiasm, infectious energy, and deep love for the music he brings to  life. Christopher is a true advocate for the Charlotte Symphony, and I'm excited to continue  collaborating with him as we shape the future of the CSO.”

“Christopher has been a steadfast and collaborative presence within the Orchestra, and we're  proud to continue working alongside him,” said Benjamin Geller, Principal Viola and Chair of  the Musicians' Artistic Advisory Committee. “The musicians deeply value our ongoing  partnership and look forward to sharing even more inspiring performances with our community.” 

About Christopher James Lees 

Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees brings passionate and nuanced orchestral  performances to the stage, a fierce commitment to contemporary music, and a natural charisma  to audiences all around the world. 

An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has conducted or returned for performances with the New  York, Los Angeles, and Rochester philharmonic orchestras, as well as the Houston, Detroit, New  World, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Fort Worth, North Carolina, Portland, Flint,  Toledo, and Winston Salem symphonies. Additional engagements have taken him to the National  Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra de Chambre de Paris, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, Cabrillo  Festival Orchestra, and the Music in the Mountains Festival and Festival Internacional de  Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil. 

Only the second American to be named a Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los  Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Lees made his debut with the orchestra in April 2013 and returned  for concerts in February 2015. 

With the New York Philharmonic, St. Louis and Atlanta Symphonies, among others, Mr. Lees  has served as an assistant conductor for the world's leading conductors, including Gustavo  Dudamel, Paavo Järvi, Herbert Blomstedt, Leonard Slatkin, David Robertson, Robert Spano,  Marin Alsop, Pablo Heras-Casado, Stéphane Denève, Susanna Mälkki, and Nicholas McGegan. 

Additionally, Mr. Lees was named Music Director of the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra in  2023. 

After two summers of study with Robert Spano at the Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Lees was  named winner of both the 2011 James Conlon Conducting Prize and the 2012 Aspen Conducting  Prizes, respectively. In 2013, Mr. Lees returned for a third summer as assistant conductor for the  Aspen Music Festival and School. 

An active pianist, and equally comfortable in the opera pit, Mr. Lees has served as Music  Director or Assistant Conductor for a wide array of operas: Verdi's Aida (Atlanta Symphony),  Britten's Peter Grimes and John Harbison's The Great Gatsby (Aspen Opera Theatre Center),  Louis Andriessen's De Materie, and Philip Glass' the CIVIL warS (Los Angeles Philharmonic),  Mozart's Don Giovanni and Mark Adamo's Little Women, (University of Michigan Opera  Theatre), and Nino Rota's Il Capello di paglia di Firenze (AJ Fletcher Opera Institute). 

A recipient of a Career Assistance Grant from the Solti Foundation US, Mr. Lees was also  chosen for showcase on the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation National Conductor Preview,  hosted by the League of American Orchestras and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

A dedicated advocate for music of our time, Mr. Lees has premiered more than 150 works by a  diverse range of composers, and collaborated closely with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams,  William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Caroline  Shaw, Roger Reynolds, and Julia Wolfe. An equally passionate advocate for music education,  Mr. Lees has brought inspirational energy to student orchestras across the country, leading  ensembles from the Colburn School, the Shepherd School at Rice University, and at the New  England and Oberlin Conservatories. 

A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Lees holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the  University of Michigan, and has studied conducting with both Larry Rachleff and Robert Spano, as well as having participated in masterclasses with Lorin Maazel, Michael Tilson Thomas,  Gustav Meier, and Jorma Panula.