Christopher Confessore

Christopher Confessore currently serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Brevard, the orchestra has enjoyed a dramatic and sustained period of artistic excellence, and has been praised for its innovative programming, spirited performances and broad repertoire. Mr. Confessore joined the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as its Associate Conductor in 2000 and currently serves as the ASO’s Principal Pops Conductor. His appearances on the ASO’s Masterworks series have garnered rave reviews for his “special talent for drawing the broadly lyrical out of his orchestra.” He also leads the orchestra in a wide variety of educational and outreach performances.

Mr. Confessore’s schedule as a guest conductor has included appearances with the Houston Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic and the Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He made his international debut in June of 2004, conducting the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, returning for additional performances in 2009.

During the 1999–2000 Season, Mr. Confessore served as Interim Education and Outreach Conductor of the Houston Symphony, conducting multiple performances on the orchestra’s Lollipops, Discovery, and First Concerts series, as well as other community outreach concerts. In June of 2007, he conducted eight performances on the Houston Symphony’s Sounds Like Fun Community Outreach series.

From 1992–2000 Mr. Confessore served as Associate Conductor of the Florida West Coast Symphony in Sarasota. From 1990-1995 he served as Education Director of the Florida West Coast Symphony, administering one of the most intensive orchestral education programs in the country.

Heralded as a sensitive accompanist and inspiring collaborator, Christopher Confessore has accompanied a distinguished list of artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell and Lang Lang. As a Pops conductor, he has appeared with a diverse group of superstars, including Grammy Award winners Art Garfunkel, Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Whoopi Goldberg, Marvin Hamlisch, Chris Botti, LeAnn Rimes, Peabo Bryson and Charlie Daniels, and Tony Award winners Idina Menzel, Debbie Gravitte and Michael Maguire.

In April of 2005, music columnist Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News remarked “Anyone who regards the symphony as stuffy and elitist hasn’t been to a SuperPops show when Confessore’s in charge. He exudes nice-guy appeal on stage, along with real warmth, a sense of humor and smarts to spare.”

Mr. Confessore has studied with internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin and has attended workshops and seminars led by Gustav Meier, Harold Farberman, and Lawrence Leighton Smith. He holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Southern California and the Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from Florida State University.