In 2005 Michael Stern began his tenure as music director of the Kansas City Symphony. Stern is also the founding music director of the acclaimed Iris Orchestra, dedicated to revitalizing all aspects of the concert experience with special emphasis on American contemporary music. Worldwide guest engagements have included the major orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. He is a regular visitor to the Aspen Music Festival. Until 2000 Michael Stern was chief conductor of Germany’s Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra, the first American to hold that post. He was for four years the permanent guest conductor of the Orchestre National de Lyon in France, and with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra he has recorded works by Stravinsky as well as Prokofiev’s Violin Concertos with Boris Belkin. From 1986 to 1991 he was assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has appeared with major orchestras throughout Europe and the United States, as well as in the Far East. He studied at the Curtis Institute with Max Rudolf, whose textbook, The Grammar of Conducting, he co-edited for its third edition. He also edited a new volume of Rudolf’s collected articles and letters, published by Pendragon Press. A graduate of Harvard University, Michael Stern earned a degree in American History in 1981.

Discography