South Carolina's Rock Hill Symphony Names New Music Director

American conductor Christopher James Lees will step into the role, effective immediately

Christopher James Lees will serve as the new Music Director at South Carolina's Rock Hill Symphony, in addition to his roles as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra.

A native of Washington, D.C., Lees received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, where he studied conducting with Larry Rachleff and Robert Spano.

He has held the Gustavo Dudamel Fellowship at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has also attended the Aspen Festival on two occasions — where he was awarded the James Conlon Conducting Prize and the 2012 Aspen Conducting Prize. He returned as Assistant Conductor in 2013.

In the 2023/24 season, Lees will make his debut with the New York Philharmonic and the New World Symphony. He has appeared as a guest conductor with the Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, and the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, and Flint Symphonies, among others.

"We are elated to be able to hire someone with the breadth of experience Mr. Lees has," said Sarah Lynn Hayes, the President of the Rock Hill Symphony.

"Mr. Lees has conducted symphonies all over the world with engagements that 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 & Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil," she continued.

"We are delighted to introduce him to our esteemed patrons and sponsors who have supported us so graciously throughout this process."