Biography of Leonard Slatkin

About the Artist

Music Director Leonard Slatkin is internationally recognized as a celebrated musician and champion of American music and musicians.  Now in his 12th season with the NSO, he is lauded for leading the Orchestra on triumphant tours through Europe, Asia and the US, as well as nationally acclaimed festivals, broadcasts, and recordings. His imaginative programming and interpretations of a vast range of repertoire have been praised and awarded nationally and internationally.

Mr. Slatkin and the Orchestra have been celebrated by the White House for their advocacy of America's artistic heritage, and Mr. Slatkin has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the National Medal of the Arts and the American Symphony Orchestra League's Gold Baton for service to American music.

Mr. Slatkin has regularly appeared over the last two decades with the world's major orchestras and opera companies, including the New York and Berlin Philharmonics, the Chicago Symphony, and Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as the Metropolitan Opera and Vienna State Opera. 

Mr. Slatkin is Principal Guest Conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and beginning with the 2008 season, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  At the same time he will become Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.  He is Conductor Laureate of the Saint Louis Symphony and the Music Advisor to the Nashville Symphony, and has just completed a very successful three-year term as Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.  In addition to his conducting appearances, Mr. Slatkin is a frequent host of musical broadcasts, which include the BBC, lending his broad knowledge and expertise.

Mr. Slatkin's extensive discography of more than 100 recordings have been recognized with nine Grammy Awards and more than 60 Grammy nominations.

Mr. Slatkin is a well-known advocate for arts education in America. He works with students of all ages, both in schools and at the Kennedy Center. This year he begins a relationship with Indiana University as the Arthur R. Metz Foundation Conductor at the Jacobs School of Music, as well as a relationship with American University as its Distinguished Artist in Residence.  He holds honorary doctorate degrees from educational institutions such as Juilliard, Washington University, University of Maryland, St. Louis Conservatory, and Shenandoah Conservatory.

Mr. Slatkin is the founder and director of the National Conducting Institute, a groundbreaking program established in 2000 to prepare gifted conductors for work with major orchestras.  He is an ongoing champion of both old and new music, which has placed him at the forefront of the nation's musical leaders.

For more information on Mr. Slatkin, please visit www.leonardslatkin.com.

Feb. 2008

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