Jeffrey Stirling

Title

Conductor, Baton 4

Jeffrey is currently the msuic director of the Saint Paul Civic Symphony and the Northeast Orchestra. He has conducted concerts and opera performances across North America and Europe. In recent seasons he has been a cover conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra and appeared as a guest conductor with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Bemidji Symphony, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Skylark Opera, Dorian Opera and otehr regional ensembles.

Jeffrey holds a bachelor's degree from Yale, and a master's and doctorate from Northwestern University. He pursued advanced studies at the Paris Conservatory under the auspices of the Fondation des Etats-Unis, and has participated in conducting programs at the Tanglewood and Salzburg music festivals and the Fontainebleau School. In 2001, Jeffrey was one of only 10 conductors chosen by Leonard Slatkin to take part in the National Conducting Institute sponsored by the League of American Orchestras and the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Jeffrey's mentors have included Pierre Boulez, Leonard Slatkin, Seiji Ozawa, Victor Yampolsky and the late Charles Bruck.

Another area of Jeffrey's expertise is that of orchestra educator. He has been a conductor with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies since 2002, served as Interim Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota, and directed the orchestral programs at Luther College, Gustavus Adolphus College, the University of Northern Iowa and St. Cloud State University. In spring 2009 Jeffrey was a Visiting Artist at St. Olaf College. He also has been a guest instructor for the Chamber Music Association of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

A native of New Jersey, Jeffrey currently lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Shari Speer, who is a professional singer, voice teacher and choral conductor.