Michael Francis (conductor)

Michael Francis (born 1976[1]) is a British conductor.

Francis learnt the double bass as a youth. He was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, and graduated in 1997 from The Cardiff University School of Music. He played the double bass for the London Symphony Orchestra before he began conducting.[2] His first public performance as conductor of a major orchestra occurred in January 2007 when London Symphony Orchestra's incoming Principal Conductor, Valery Gergiev, fell ill.

In Europe, Francis became chief conductor and artistic adviser to the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in 2012, and held the post through 2016.[3] In December 2016, Francis first guest-conducted the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz.[4] In December 2018, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz announced the appointment of Francis as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019-2020 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.[1][5]

In the USA, Francis became music director of The Florida Orchestra as of the 2015-2016 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[6] His current contract with The Florida Orchestra is through 2024.[4] He became music director of the Mainly Mozart Festival (San Diego, California, USA) in the summer of 2015.[1]

Francis lives in Florida with his American wife Cindy and their daughter.[7]

References
  1. "Ludwigshafen – Michael Francis wird neuer Chefdirigent der Deutschen Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz". Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar News. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  2. "BBC News - Conductor Michael Francis joins BBC National Orchestra of Wales tour". BBC News. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  3. Pauli Olavi Kuivanen (2016-05-11). "Michael Francis lämnar SON efter fyra år". Norrköpings Tidningar. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  4. Susan Giles Wantuck (2018-12-13). "Florida Orchestra Music Director Takes On Additional Conducting Job in Germany". WUSF Public Media. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  5. Johanna Dupré (December 2018). "Michael Francis wird Chefdirigent der Staatsphilharmonie". Wormser Zeitung. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  6. Stephanie Hayes (2014-06-24). "Florida Orchestra names Michael Francis new music director". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  7. Stephanie Hayes (2014-10-21). "Florida Orchestra's Michael Francis talks making music and a home". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
Alan Buribayev		 Principal Conductor, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
2012–2016		 Succeeded by
(post vacant)
Preceded by
Stefan Sanderling		 Music Director, Florida Orchestra
2015–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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