(long version)

Grant Gershon, music director

Conductor Grant Gershon is equally at home with symphonic and choral music, opera and musical theater. Since 2001 he has been Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which the Los Angeles Times has proclaimed “the most exciting chorus in the country under Gershon’s leadership.” According to composer John Adams, "Grant Gershon is one of those rarities we call 'the complete musician'. My respect for his musicality—for his conducting, his extraordinary musical intuition and his formidable ear—knows no bounds.” In addition to his post with the Chorale, Mr. Gershon was named Associate Conductor/Chorus Master of the LA Opera beginning in the 2007|08 Season. His contract with the Chorale extends through the 2011.

An ardent champion of new music, Mr. Gershon has given many world premiere performances, including major works by John Adams, Louis Andriessen, Steve Reich, Ricky Ian Gordon, Christopher Rouse, Billy Childs, David O, Don Davis, Tania León and Bobby McFerrin; as well as American premieres of works by Esa-Pekka Salonen, James MacMillan, Sofia Gubaidulina and Mark Anthony Turnage. His Nonesuch recording with the LA Master Chorale of Steve Reich’s You Are (Variations) was honored with the WQXR Gramophone America Award for 2006. The New York Times, Washington Post and Newsday, among others, selected it as one of the top ten classical recordings of 2005. A second recording for Nonesuch, Steve Reich’s Daniel Variations, released this spring was described by UK’s Guardian as “a searching, serious piece… one of Reich’s major statements.” In 2002 Gershon made his first CD with the Master Chorale, featuring the world premiere recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first choral work as well as Philip Glass’s Itaipú (RCM 12004).

Mr. Gershon has appeared as guest conductor with Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Swedish Royal Opera, Juilliard Opera Theatre, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Finnish chamber orchestra Avanti!, among others. He has also led performances at many of the world’s most prestigious festivals, including the Ravinia, Edinburgh, Vienna, Aspen and Helsinki festivals as well as the Roma-Europa Festival and the Festival Otonno in Madrid. Many of these appearances have been as music director for projects by famed director Peter Sellars with whom Mr. Gershon has had a long artistic relationship.

Mr. Gershon has served as chorus master on two Grammy Award-nominated CDs, Sweeney Todd (New York Philharmonic Special Editions) and Ligeti’s Grand Macabre (Sony Classical). In 2006, he appeared on the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center leading the LA Master Chorale in vocal works of Steve Reich, and on the Making Music Series at Zankel Hall. In 2007, he conducted the Utah Symphony in performances of Ricky Ian Gordon’s acclaimed new opera Grapes of Wrath. As an educator, for the past five summers he has served as Music Director of the Idyllwild Arts Festival Chorus. Additionally, in 2007, he conducted the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus presentation of a new opera, The Keepers of the Night, by Peter Ash and Donald Sturrock, and made his debut at the Berkshire Choral Festival.

Prior to joining the Chorale, Mr. Gershon served as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1994 to 1997, during which time he led performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Hollywood Bowl. Mr. Gershon also served as Assistant Conductor / Principal Pianist with LA Opera from 1988 to 1994, where he participated in over 40 productions and garnered a reputation as one of the country’s exceptional vocal coaches.

He has also served as Assistant Conductor at the Salzburg Festival, the Berlin Staatsoper and the Festival Aix-En-Provence, working with conductors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Daniel Barenboim and Claudio Abbado respectively. Mr. Gershon is in demand as a pianist for such leading singers as Peter Schreier, Rod Gilfry and Audra McDonald, and accompanied Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras in separate appearances on “The Tonight Show.” In addition, he has conducted choral recording sessions for the motion picture sound tracks of I Am Legend, Charlie Wilson’s War, Lady in the Water, Click and License to Wed, and recorded vocal solos for The X Files: I Want To Believe. On screen, Mr. Gershon appeared as a pianist in two episodes of the hit television series “Cheers.”

He received his bachelor of music degree cum laude in piano performance from USC, and was named USC Thornton School of Music Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in May 2002. He currently serves on the USC Thornton Board of Advisors.

(short version)

Grant Gershon, music director

Conductor Grant Gershon is equally at home with symphonic and choral music, opera and musical theater. Since 2001 he has been Music Director of the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale, which the Los Angeles Times has proclaimed “the most exciting chorus in the country under Gershon’s leadership.” In addition to his post with the Chorale, Mr. Gershon was named Associate Conductor/Chorus Master of the LA Opera beginning in the 2007|08 Season. His contract with the Chorale extends through the 2010|11 Season. The conductor, pianist and vocalist has expanded the Chorale’s repertoire considerably, conducting dozens of world, U.S., West Coast and Los Angeles premieres. He has conducted three recordings with the chorus, including two world premiere recordings on Nonesuch of works by Steve Reich — You Are (Variations) and Daniel Variations — and the world premiere recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first choral work paired with Philip Glass’s Itaipú. Mr. Gershon recently conducted the Minnesota Opera’s world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s acclaimed opera, The Grapes of Wrath, and subsequent performances of the opera with the Utah Symphony. He has also guest conducted the San Antonio Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, Juilliard Opera Theatre, the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Finnish chamber orchestra Avanti!, among others. Mr. Gershon, who made recently made his conducting debut at the Berkshire Choral Festival, has served as Music Director of the Idyllwild Arts Festival Choir since 2003. He previously served as assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1994-97, and was Assistant Conductor/Principal Pianist with the LA Opera from 1988 to 1994, where he participated in over 40 productions and garnered a reputation as one of the country’s exceptional vocal coaches. Mr. Gershon currently serves on the USC Thornton Board of Councilors.