Page 28 - NWS January 2025 Digital Playbill

ABOUT the ARTISTS

MICHAEL CHRISTIE Artistic and Music Director
A GRAMMY award-winning and innovative conductor,
®
Michael Christie is at home in both the symphonic and
opera worlds. As Artistic and Music Director of the New
West Symphony, he is focused on making the audience
experience entertaining, enlightening and enriching. The
New West Symphony Board of Directors recently announced
the extension of Christie’s contract through 2029.
Of his opening concert as Music Director in 2019, the Los
Angeles Times reported that the orchestra is “embracing
the mission of refreshing the modern concert experience
for a new generation.”
In November 2024, Christie conducted the world premiere of The Amazing
Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, with music by Mason Bates and a libretto by Gene
Scheer, at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. The opera will subsequently
be performed at The Metropolitan Opera.
Christie’s more than 25-year symphonic conducting career has included serving
as Music Director of the Minnesota Opera (2011-18), Phoenix Symphony (2005-
13), Brooklyn Philharmonic (2005-10), and as Chief Conductor of the Queensland
Orchestra (2001-04) in Australia, as well as guest appearances leading top orchestras
such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, the Symphonies
of Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, and more. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Colorado
Music Festival.
Michael Christie is married to Alexis, a physician, and they have two children.
michaelchristieonline.com

LAURA ZAHN Carmen
A rising dramatic mezzo-soprano, Laura Zahn has
been praised for her “warm, voluptuous voice.” In the
current season Zahn is scheduled to make several role
debuts in the dramatic repertoire, including Santuzza
(Cavalleria Rusticana), Zita (Gianni Schicchi) and The
Witch (Hansel and Gretel), as well as her international
debut in Hong Kong singing highlights from Carmen
and a house debut with Opera Delaware. Highlights of
recent seasons include Giulietta di Kelbar (Un giorno di
regno) and Maddalena (Rigoletto) with Opera Orlando,
role debuts as Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Secretary in Menotti’s The
Consul and a Carnegie Hall debut singing highlights of Amneris in Aida and Suzuki
in Madama Butterfly. Zahn holds degrees from The Boston Conservatory and
Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

28 | New West Symphony