About
American conductor Joseph Young has emerged as one of today’s most compelling orchestral leaders, celebrated for his “expansive, ingenious style of conducting” (San Francisco Classical Voice), his vivid interpretations, and his skill in forging powerful connections through music.
In recent seasons, Young has made notable debuts with major orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Louisville Orchestra. Internationally, he has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE in Madrid, and the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra on tour throughout South Africa. His operatic work includes leading acclaimed productions at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, and Cincinnati Opera.
The 2025-2026 season begins with the release of composer Joel Puckett’s Short Stories in London, an album featuring the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Young. Season highlights also include a performance of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s opera Blue at Lincoln Center, honoring Tesori’s contributions to American music, and a return to the Omaha Symphony.
In June 2025, Young concluded his transformational tenure as Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony. Across six seasons, his dynamic programming and authentic artistic presence earned both popular and critical acclaim. He is credited with expanding the orchestra’s audience by 40%, strengthening its commitment to commissioning new works, and celebrating Berkeley’s unique identity through creative partnerships with local arts groups and composers.
Young brings the same thoughtful approach to his work with leading educational and artistic institutions. He serves as Artistic Director of Ensembles at the Peabody Conservatory and sits on the board of New Music USA. From 2017 to 2023, he held a leadership role with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute and National Youth Orchestra programs, culminating in his Carnegie Hall debut and an NYO2 tour of the Dominican Republic.
At the start of his career, Young served as the Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony under Robert Spano and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he was the driving force behind the ensemble’s artistic growth. He has served as Resident Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony and was a League of American Orchestras Fellow with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Young’s conducting career was launched when he attended a workshop with Marin Alsop who, recognizing his raw talent, created the BSO–Peabody Conducting Fellowship to facilitate his artistic and professional growth. He was mentored by luminaries in the orchestra world, including Jorma Panula, Spano, and Alsop, with whom he maintains a close artistic partnership.
Young is a three-time recipient of a coveted Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award for young conductors (2008, 2014, 2015). In 2013, he was a semi-finalist in the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg, Germany. In 2011, he was one of six conductors featured in the League of American Orchestras’ prestigious Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.
He holds an Artist’s Diploma in conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of South Carolina.
