Jayce Ogren

Jayce Ogren has established himself as one of the most innovative and versatile conductors  of his generation. From symphonic concerts to revolutionary community service programs to  operatic world premieres, he is a leader in breaking down barriers between audiences and  great music.

Mr. Ogren is in his third season as Music Director of the Monterey Symphony in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and was recently appointed Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Michigan, where he conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra, Contemporary Directions Ensemble and the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he serves as Principal Guest Conductor of  Philadelphia’s new music ensemble Orchestra 2001.

Mr. Ogren began his career as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music  Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, an appointment he held from  2006-2009. In the years since, he has conducted many of the world’s most prominent  orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, Boston Symphony, Ensemble Intercontemporain,  Hong Kong Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, the Dallas and  San Francisco Symphonies, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Among the numerous progressive projects Mr. Ogren has conducted are Basil Twist’s The Rite  of Spring with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Lincoln Center; the world premiere of David  Lang’s symphony for a broken orchestra, bringing together 400 amateur and professional  musicians in Philadelphia; 30th anniversary performances of Frank Zappa’s The Yellow Shark  with Orchestra 2001; and the world premiere of Jack Perla’s Shalimar the Clown at Opera  Theatre of St. Louis.

For over a decade, Mr. Ogren has been closely associated with the Leonard Bernstein Office,  conducting the New York premiere of Bernstein’s only opera, A Quiet Place, at Lincoln Center;  the European premiere of the film with live orchestra version of West Side Story at London’s  Royal Albert Hall; and the world premieres of new orchestrations of Fancy Free and Dybbuk  with Lost Dog New Music Ensemble.

A longtime collaborator of singer/songwriter/composer Rufus Wainwright, Mr. Ogren  conducted the U.S. premiere of his opera Prima Donna at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the  Scandinavian premiere at the Royal Swedish Opera, and led its recording with the BBC  Symphony on Deutsche Grammaphon. Mr. Ogren and Mr. Wainwright have since appeared together throughout the world, with ensembles such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra in  Ottawa, the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France in Paris and the Toronto Symphony.

A devoted educator, he was invited by renowned poet Paul Muldoon to create an  interdisciplinary studio class at Princeton University for the 2017-2018 academic year. He has  worked with students at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Brevard Music Center,  Cleveland Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Music Academy  of the West and Verbier Festival. In 2016, he presented a unique workshop in orchestral  rehearsal techniques for music teachers at Carnegie Hall in collaboration with the Carnegie  Hall Weill Music Institute and the Juilliard School Pre-College.

As a composer, Mr. Ogren has received commissions from ensembles throughout the United  States. His Symphonies of Gaia for symphonic wind ensemble has been performed  extensively throughout the world, and is published by C. Alan Publications.

Jayce Ogren holds degrees from St. Olaf College, New England Conservatory and the Royal  College of Music in Stockholm, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar with Alan Gilbert and  Jorma Panula. His wife, Carly Berger Ogren, is an architect, and together they have an  adventurous 4 year old son, Alistair. An avid athlete, he has competed in the Big Sur, Boston  and New York City marathons, the JFK 50 Miler trail run, and the Ironman Lake Placid  triathlon. As an individual member of 1% for the Planet, Mr. Ogren is proud to connect his  artistic work with his deep love of nature and concern for the environment.