Regarded as one of America’s most versatile conductors, Gerald Steichen has enjoyed an illustrious career at the helm of symphonies, opera, and Broadway productions across the US and beyond.

 

Known for his dynamic personality and energetic interpretations, Maestro Steichen spent twelve seasons as Principal Pops conductor of the Utah Symphony and was a frequent guest conductor for the Boston Pops and the New Jersey Symphony.  In addition to fifteen seasons as Principal Pops Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Steichen served as Music Director of the Ridgefield Symphony, Longview Symphony, and the Macon Symphony. He has guest conducted the symphonies of Detroit, Indianapolis, Naples (Florida), Portland, Oregon, the Florida Orchestra in Tampa, Cincinnati, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Hartford, Pueblo, Little Orchestra Society, and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. International symphonic appearances include the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Symphony, the NDR Philharmonie Hannover at the Braunschweig Festival, and numerous appearances with the Norwegian Radio Symphony.

 

Steichen spent ten seasons with New York City Opera at Lincoln Center leading acclaimed performances of La bohème, L’elisir d’amore, Dead Man Walking, The Little Prince, Jonathan Miller’s production of The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Additional performances at NYCO included a live 2007 WQXR broadcast of Wall-to-Wall Opera from New York’s Symphony Space and, showcasing his gifts as a pianist, performing onstage in NYCO’s much lauded productions of Porgy and Bess and Carmina Burana. Maestro Steichen has also appeared on the podiums of Utah Opera, Virginia Opera, Anchorage Opera, New Jersey Opera Theater, Opera East Texas, and the Glimmerglass Opera.

 

Steichen toured nationally as Music Director of The King and I, and associate conductor of The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, and Peter Pan. On Broadway he conducted Cats for two years, leading the final public performance of the original run. He also had the unique opportunity to portray Manny the Accompanist in Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play Master Class. Steichen spent eighteen years with the “Meet the Artist” series at Lincoln Center as conductor, clinician and pianist. He has appeared on both The Today Show and Good Morning America.

 

A gifted chamber musician, he continues to play instrumental and vocal recitals internationally, including performances with the HIFA festival in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Bay Chamber Festival in Rockport, Maine.

 

Upcoming performances include The Pirates of Penzance with Tulsa Opera, and debuts with Phoenix Symphony and the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago.

 

Originally from Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Maestro Steichen holds degrees from Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City University, and the University of Southern California. He currently resides in New York City.