Biography

Michael Hall

Conductor

Maestro Hall is in his 10th season as Music Director of the Kennett Symphony, and in his 7th season as Music Director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, Canada, as well as holding the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Space Coast Symphony in Florida. 

Hall has appeared with many of today’s leading ensembles, including the Houston Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Pacific Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Symphoria, the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Toledo Symphony, the Windsor Symphony, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Great Falls Symphony, the Bozeman Symphony,  the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Groundswell New Music Ensemble, and the Havant Symphony in the UK, as well as the Tucson Symphony, where he developed a special relationship, having been a frequent guest conductor in past seasons. The 22/23 season saw Hall’s debut with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra and this season will make his debut with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.

Previously, Hall has held the position of Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony,  Associate Conductor of the Pacific Symphony in California, Resident Conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the Havant Symphony Orchestra in the UK.

A passionate advocate for music education, both in the concert hall and in the classroom, Maestro Hall has conducted many noteworthy college and youth orchestras including the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University. Hall has also acted as Visiting Guest Artist, Conductor in Residence at Ithaca College’s School of Music, as well as Ball State University’s School of Music in Indiana.

Hall holds a Master’s degree in conducting from the University of Michigan, having studied with renowned conducting pedagogue Gustav Meier, and a DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he worked with Sir Colin Davis. 

Recognized for his talent among his peers, Maestro Hall was a finalist in the International Conducting Competition in Besançon France and was awarded Third Prize in the Cadaques Orchestra International Conducting Competition in Spain.

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Curriculum Vitae

Positions

2017 – Present: Music Director; Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

  • Regional orchestra serving one of the fastest growing areas in Canada

2016 – Present: Principal Guest Conductor; Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Cocoa, FL

  • Professional per-service orchestra on Florida’s East Coast

2014 – Present: Music Director, Kennett Symphony Orchestra, Kennett Square PA

  • Professional per-service orchestra in Southeastern PA
  • First ever commission for 75th anniversary
  • Increased concert offerings and increased ticket sales in second season of tenure.

2012 – 2013: Visiting Guest Artist, Ball State University School of Music, Muncie IN

  • Conducted the Ball State Symphony Orchestra
  • Mentored post-graduate conducting students

2007 – 2012: Music Director, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Ft Myers FL

  • Special mention in the LAO Symphony magazine for groundbreaking ‘Glow in the Dark’ concert
  • Commissioned two new works for orchestra’s 50th anniversary
  • Pioneered ‘Discovery’ concert:  a multi-media educational concert event

2002 – 2008: Assistant Conductor/Associate Conductor, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, CA

  • Created and conducted nationally recognized Family Concerts, as well as conducting in each of the orchestra’s major series
  • Initial three year position extended to an unprecedented six year tenure with promotion to Associate Conductor

1999 – 2002: Resident Conductor, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg MB.

  • Regularly programmed, planned, and conducted for each of the orchestra’s major series including Classics, Pops, Family and Education
  • Recorded for CBC radio
  • Awarded Honorary Citizenship by the Mayor

1998 – 1999: Associate Conductor, Havant Symphony Orchestra, Hampshire UK

Guest Appearances

Tucson Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphoria
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
Windsor Symphony Orchestra
Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic
Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica
Pennsylvania Philharmonic
Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Groundswell New Music Ensemble
Muncie Symphony Orchestra

Awards/Honors

Third Prize – Cadaques Orchestra International Conducting Competition. (Spain)

Finalist – International Conducting Competition (Besancon France)

Media

Featured in BRAVO TV’s Whole Notes hosted by Jon Kimura Parker conducting the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra:

George Frideric Handel  “Much More to Handel”

Johannes Brahms  “Keeper of  the Classical Flame”

Education

1996-1999: Postgraduate Advanced Course in Conducting, Royal Academy of Music London, England

  • Regular instructors included Sir Colin Davis, Mark Wigglesworth, George Hurst and Colin Metters
  • Held one of three places, for which over 300 conductors from around the world auditioned

1994-1996: Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting, University of Michigan

  • One of two conductors, out of more than 200 international applicants, chosen to study with Gustav Meier in his final year at the University of Michigan

1988-1992: Bachelor of Music in Piano and Theory, University of Toronto