Maestro George Jackson
‘George Jackson raised the stature of the music to a rarely-encountered level, absolutely enthralling from first bar to last’
Classical Source
George Jackson is quickly making a name for the breadth and commitment of his work, whether in opera, symphonic repertoire, or contemporary scores. He builds strong relationships with the orchestras he conducts and has served as Music Director of Amarillo Symphony since September 2022.
Jackson brings a broad repertoire to Amarillo Symphony this season, ranging from classics such as Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Holst’s The Planets, and Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, to world premieres by Christopher Lowry and Gavin Higgins, and the US premiere of Dani Howard’s The Butterfly Effect.
His 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. Recently, he conducted the group at Festival Présences and Tokyo Spring Festival, in programs featuring Reich, Werner, Boulez, Varèse, and Webern. With Collegium Novum Zürich, Jackson conducted Isabel Mundry’s new work Noli me tangere, and with Brussels Philharmonic, he led the world premiere of Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber’s Chahut.
Jackson is increasingly sought-after as a guest with European orchestras, who appreciate his fearless conducting and thorough rehearsal technique. Current highlights include Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Ensemble 10:10, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, and Brussels Philharmonic.
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), La bohème and Le nozze di Figaro (Opera Holland Park), and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Theater an der Wien).
Formative experiences include his participation at Lucerne Festival Academy, Deutsche Bank’s Akademie Musiktheater heute, and at Aspen Music Festival, where he was awarded the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2015.
