Maestro George Jackson

The Amarillo Symphony is proud to have selected our 18^th music director, George Jackson. Jackson was chosen by the Music Director Search Committee, comprised of board members, community representatives, and musicians, led by Jeff Booth in July 2022.

“We were impressed with how George inspired our musicians and made his concerts a truly special experience.” -Jeff Booth, Head of Music Director Search Committee.

George Jackson is quickly making a name for the breadth and commitment of his work, whether in
opera, symphonic repertoire or contemporary scores, building strong relationships with the orchestras he conducts.

Jackson’s skill in preparing complex scores has led to an ongoing relationship with Ensemble
Intercontemporain. Together they released the world premiere recording of Steve Reich’s Reich/Richter on Nonesuch Records, following successful performances of the work in Rome, Paris and Luxembourg. He also conducted the group for the French premieres of works by Rebecca Saunders and James Dillon at the 2019 Festival d’Automne à Paris. With Collegium Novum Zürich Jackson conducted Noli me tangere, a new work by Isabel Mundry, and with Brussels Philharmonic he led the world premiere of Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber’s new work, Chahut.

He is increasingly sought-after as a guest with European orchestras, who appreciate his fearless
conducting and thorough rehearsal technique. Recent engagements include Orchestre de Paris, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie and the orchestra of Opéra de Rouen.

Praised for his natural affinity for opera, he has received acclaim for his work in productions of
Hänsel und Gretel and The Excursions of Mr Brouček (Grange Park Opera), Le nozze di Figaro (Opera Holland Park), and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Theater an der Wien). Future plans include his Wrocław Opera debut with Rigoletto, and the world premiere of Gods of the Game, a collaborative opera commissioned by Sky Arts for Grange Park Opera.

The son of actor parents, Jackson began inventing theatrical entertainments with his sister at an early age, as well as learning the violin, and later served as a drummer and guitarist in post-punk, rock and Irish folk bands, developing broad musical tastes that he retains to this day.

Jackson’s formative experiences include his participation at Lucerne Festival Academy and at Aspen
Music Festival, where he was awarded the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2015. He is passionate and
informed about the art and traditions of conducting, and regularly passes on his enthusiasm through
podcasts on the subject.

Learn more about Maestro Jackson.