Scott Terrell

Virginia Martin Howard Associate Professor, Director of Orchestral Studies

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Biography

Scott Terrell has built a major conducting career through imaginative programs, an engaging presence, and a determined passion for artistic excellence, teaching, and viability.  An ardent champion of new music and diversity of repertoire, he was a visionary conductor whose artistry and intellect has engaged musicians, students, and audiences.  Maestro Terrell is Associate Professor of Orchestral Studies, holding the Virginia Martin Howard Chair, at the Louisiana State University School of Music.  

In great demand as a guest conductor, Mr. Terrell will make debuts in 2024-25 with the San Francisco Symphony and Kansas City Symphony.  He will also has return engagements with the Baltimore Symphony, Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic.  

Passionate about working with aspiring musician and educators, Terrell is an active guest clinician, teacher, and adjudicator.  He has been a regular guest conductor and instructor at the Aspen Music Festival, leading various concert programs as well as guiding and mentoring conducting students.  He has taught internationally at the Sofia Symphonic Summit (Sofia, Bulgaria) and the International Masterclass for Conductors in Schladming, Austria.

In demand as an educator and teacher of young musicians, he has conducted and presented at educational and honor orchestra events in Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Massachusetts.  

Maestro Terrell has conducted many prestigious international organizations including Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra Opera Colorado, Opera Hong Kong, Arizona Opera, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Milwaukee Symphony, Spoleto Festival, Naples Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony, Richmond Symphony, and the Mostly Modern Festival.  

Having a strong affinity for vocal and operatic repertoire, Maestro Terrell has led a wealth of projects abroad.  Collaborations with Kentucky Opera have included Stephen Paulus’ oratorio, To Be Certain of the Dawn, Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar.  Operatic engagements have included Opera Hong Kong gala concerts of Bernstein, and Arizona Opera’s production of The Magic Flute.  He conducted Piazzolla’s Maria de Buenos Aires at Fort Worth Opera, Aspen Music Festival and Arizona Opera as well as Aspen’s concert productions of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Missy Mazzoli’s groundbreaking work, Proving Up.  

Mr. Terrell was Music Director of the Lexington Philharmonic for a transformative decade (2009-2019) in the organization’s history.  He re-invigorated and raised the artistic level of the ensemble, diversified programming, expanded collaborations, and increased community support.

Previously, Maestro Terrell served as Resident Conductor and Director of Education for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and prior to that was Assistant Conductor of Minnesota Orchestra.  A native of Michigan, Maestro Terrell is a graduate of Western Michigan University, and the University of Minnesota in orchestral conducting.  Terrell was chosen as a fellowship conductor for the inaugural season of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival under Music Director, David Zinman.  He has participated in master classes with such distinguished conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Jorma Panula, and David Robertson.  At Aspen, he was awarded the prestigious Conducting Prize from David Zinman.