Conductor and Artistic Director

Anthony Spain has been Music Director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra (NWSO) since 1987, and was recently appointed Music Director of the Oregon East Symphony and Chorale. His work with the NWSO has met with national acclaim, having been featured several times on National Public Radio. Melinda Bargreen of the Seattle Times described Dr. Spain and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra performances’ as “…strong, committed impassioned performances. Spain and the NWSO have recorded three CD’s which have been highly praised by sources including the American Record Guide “…sound is beautiful, playing excellent” and Fanfare “... first class orchestra…This is a first class production all around”. Dr. Spain’s innovative programming of northwest American composers first came to national attention in 1996 with a mention in a front page Wall Street Journal article regarding up and coming arts groups. He and the NWSO have received seven national ASCAP awards for “Programming of Contemporary Music.” Anthony Spain and the NWSO are the recipients of several National Endowment for the Arts grants, along with grants from the Washington State Arts Commission, 4 Culture, City of Seattle, and several private foundations.

Dr. Spain has guest conducted orchestras and choirs throughout America and in Europe. He has conducted the Orfeo International Orchestra with the choir of L’UNESCO (the cultural branch of the United Nations) in Paris, France as well as the Bath Philharmonic in Bath, England. The Bath Chronicle exclaimed of Dr. Spain “He has a type of charisma, which extends to the far orchestral corners.” He has been a guest conductor with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and a cover conductor with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Spain is also a regular guest conductor every summer at the Masterworks Festival south of Chicago, which includes some of the most gifted students from around the country, along with musicians from major orchestras including the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and Saint Louis Symphony. A noted conductor of choral/orchestra works, Dr. Spain has conducted several choirs in Seattle including Cascadian Chorale, Choral Sounds Northwest, Northwest Boys choir, Northwest Girls choir, Northwest Chorale, Seattle Girls choir, Total Experience Gospel Choir and Bainbridge and Vashon Chorales. Eugene Carlson, former reporter with the Wall Street Journal, wrote in March of 2008 “ever wonder if the director of a chorus- really makes a difference? Guest Director Anthony Spain took the (Vashon) Chorale to heights that seemed to surprise ever the members of the chorus itself. The performance was terrific… a programming masterstroke.” During a 2004 sabbatical in London and Paris, he assisted John Nelson at the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris along with several choirs. Dr. Spain has received numerous awards and honors including a Grammy nomination in vocal jazz performance.

Dr. Spain has been complimented on his ability to captivate an audience with insights and anecdotes on composers and pieces alike. Dedicated to education, he works regularly with students throughout the Seattle and Highline area, as part of the NWSO’s “Symphony for Students” program. He is an active adjudicator and clinician and has been a guest speaker at conferences including the American Symphony Orchestra League’s National Convention and the Conductor’s Guild National Conference. Spain graduated in 1990 with a Doctorate Degree in Music from the University of Washington. He is also an advisory board member of the Sacred Music Foundation, and a board member of Ars Nova Music.