Maestro Barry Jekowsky

Maestro Barry Jekowsky, twice nominated for a Grammy award, has been widely heralded as one of the classical music world’s most visionary and innovative conductors working today. Among other precedents he has set, as Music Director of the California Symphony, Jekowsky was the first to feature at least one American work on every concert program. He created the California Symphony’s Young American Composer-in-Residence Program, which garnered international attention for its “orchestra-laboratory” forum and unique collaboration between musicians and composers during the creative process. Besides being music director for three orchestras, he has been a guest conductor for orchestras nationally and internationally. Jekowsky’s Decca recording of the music of Lou Harrison, and the unusual collaboration with legendary vocalist  Al Jarreau, became one of twelve recordings of the year for Gramaphone magazine.

Jekowsky began giving extraordinarily gifted young performers their first professional concert appearances in the United States, long before it became a trend. Considered one of the foremost authorities on prodigiously gifted children, Jekowsky was prominently featured in the critically acclaimed book, Genius Denied, by Jan and Bob Davidson (Simon and Schuster). He also consults for the Davidson Institute, a unique organization dedicated to helping profoundly gifted children.

For more information, including reviews and awards, please refer to the website: barryjekowsky.com