Micah Gleason, an “easygoing yet fiercely skilled conductor and singer” (NYT), graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music as mentee of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, was chosen by the Dallas Opera for its renowned Hart Institute for Women Conductors, is a recipient of the 2024 Taki Alsop Conducting Award and winner of the 2025 American Prize in Conducting.

Interdisciplinary collaboration and community building are at the core of Micah’s music-making. She is curious about the most effective ways to disrupt the stasis and comfort of the modern concert hall; and how artists across disciplines, activists, and researchers can most effectively collaborate.

An active symphonic and opera conductor, Micah has collaborated with notable ensembles including the Iceland Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, San Diego Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, The Spoleto Festival Orchestra, The Orchestra Now, Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra, the Dallas Opera Orchestra, and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra; and served as cover conductor for opera productions with Washington National Opera, Opera Philadelphia, The Glimmerglass Festival, Beth Morrison Projects, Juilliard Vocal Arts, Curtis Opera Theater, and Bard College Opera Theater.

An avid performer of chamber music as both conductor and a singer, Micah has appeared at the 92nd Street Y, with Chamber Music Northwest, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Friends of Music Concerts Inc., Phoenix Chamber Music Society, the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago.

Wesley Schulz is widely recognized for his superb programming and spirited yet heartfelt music making with orchestras. At home with masterworks, contemporary music as well as pops, the Cultural Voice of North Carolina deems Schulz’s conducting “spectacular.” Schulz is Music Director and Conductor of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra (WA) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Additionally, Schulz was the Associate Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony, a Conducting Fellow at the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra and Education and Family Conductor for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Recent and upcoming guest conductor engagements include the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Tacoma among others.

As Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra, one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest regional orchestras, Schulz is committed to deepening the relationship between the symphony and the community. Recent projects include the formation of a commissioning consortium of eight American orchestras for a new piece by Jessica Meyer; an original staging of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring; the creation of Rhythm and Rhymes, a music and literary program for young children; the implementation of Carnegie Hall’s Link Up and collaborations with artists such as Randall Goosby, Anton Nel, Bella Hristova, Dominic Cheli, Seattle Pro Musica, The Guild Dance Company and more.

Across four seasons as Associate Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony, Schulz conducted over 200 performances in all genres including

Known for his imaginative programming, vibrant podium presence, and deeply collaborative leadership, American conductor Todd Craven has built a career spanning major symphony orchestras, operatic institutions, and professional community-focused ensembles. He is currently in his fifth season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and his tenth season as Music Director of the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, where his work has strengthened artistic standards, expanded audience engagement, and fostered meaningful partnerships in the community.

Craven has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras across the United States including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra (TFO), Jacksonville Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, among others. Internationally, his guest appearances include the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Radom Chamber Orchestra (Poland), Karlovy Vary Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), and the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic (Russia). He has also received an invitation to conduct in South America with the Goiânia Symphony Orchestra (Brazil).

Collaborating with a wide range of distinguished artists, including tenor Lawrence Brownlee, violinist Rachel Barton Pine, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, and author-narrator Jamie Bernstein, Mr. Craven has also assisted in recording projects with Gil Shaham, Béla Fleck, and conductor Eric Jacobsen.

Craven’s professional development was shaped in significant part by his tenure as Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, where he worked closely with Music Director JoAnn Falletta. In this role, he led pops, education,