The British conductor, George Jackson, is quickly making a name for the breadth and commitment of his work, whether in symphonic, opera or contemporary repertoire, building strong relationships with the orchestras and ensembles he conducts. Jackson is in his fourth season as Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony.

 

Jackson 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, Israel Contemporary Players and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León. Future plans include performances with Brussels Philharmonic, Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier and BBC Concert Orchestra. 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).

 

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. Last season he conducted the group at Festival Présences and Tokyo Easter Festival, in programmes 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. This season with Amarillo Symphony he conducts the world premieres of works by Michael Daugherty, Matthew Kanerand Angela Elizabeth Slater.

 

The son of actor parents, 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 studied at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, with renowned Japanese conductor and teacher Yuji Yuasa.