b'BIOGRAPHY Francesco Lecce-Chong, Music Director & ConductorA merican conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong has established himself as a respected leader in the orchestral world through his acclaimed performances, innovative projects, and passionate advocacy for the arts. Appointed Music Director of Santa Rosa Symphony (SRS) and Eugene Symphony before age 30, he launched groundbreaking projects, commissioned over a dozen major works, and forged innovative community partnerships. Now in his eighth season, he has grown the SRSs reputation as one of the most prominent US regional orchestras, with performances at the world-class Weill Hall at the Green Music Center. Lecce-Chong regularly appears with major US orchestras, from the San Francisco Symphony to the New York Philharmonic, collaborating with top soloists such as Rene Fleming and Itzhak Perlman. Additional debuts includePhoto by Loren Hansen Photographythe Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Utah Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Detroit Symphony. In 2023, Lecce-Chong debuted in Europe at the prestigious George Enescu Festival with the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, and in 2025, he will debut with the Janek Philharmonic the Czech Republic. Throughout his career, Lecce-Chong has demonstrated an unparalleled dedication to the future of the orchestral art form. One of his first large-scale endeavors was the First Symphony Project, which consisted of major commissions from next-generation composers across four seasons, including multiple residencies. He has integrated a dozen new orchestral works into the repertoire from composers like Grammy winner Michael Daugherty, Conrad Tao, Clarice Assad, and Gabriella Smith. To keep SRS connected to its community during the pandemic, he spearheaded SRS @ Home, which brought live internet performances to thousands of households. Several performances were broadcast on local PBS TV, reaching two million viewers. To mark the conclusion of his eight-year tenure with the Eugene Symphony, the Delos label has released the Eugene Symphonys first commercial recording in its history, featuring a newly commissioned piece by David Schiff commemorating the legendary Olympic runner, Steve Prefontaine. Lecce-Chong is equally committed to the opera repertoire, having first conducted performances of Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos at age 24 in New York City. He served as staff conductor with the Santa Fe Opera and lead performances with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. He led the Eugene Symphonys semi-staged presentation of Wagners Tristan und Isolde. At SRS, Lecce-Chong conducted and directed Mozarts The Magic Flute, featuring his original dialogue, and partnered with a local arts high school to create a multidisciplinary experience. Trained also as a pianist and composer, Lecce-Chong studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, Mannes College of Music, and Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy before winning positions as Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony. Lecce-Chong is the recipient of several distinctions, including the prestigious Solti Foundation Award. He has had the privilege of being mentored and supported by renowned conductors, including Bernard Haitink, David Zinman, Edo de Waart, Manfred Honeck, Donald Runnicles, and Michael Tilson Thomas. srsymphony.org2025-2026 Season 9'