Email:

jefmeyer@iu.edu

Department:

Orchestral Conducting

Jeff Meyer was appointed professor of music in orchestral conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2023.

Meyer has developed a career as an accomplished conductor, pianist, and educator throughout North America, Europe, Russia, and Asia with a reputation for championing contemporary orchestral music and innovative collaborations. His programming has been awarded multiple prizes, including three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and two Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Awards in Orchestral Programming.

He was previously director of orchestras at Arizona State University since 2016 and artistic partner with the Northwest Sinfonietta, one of the Northwest United States’ most dynamic orchestras. Artistic director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic for two decades, his work with the orchestra was noted for its breadth and innovation.

Praised as “one of the most interesting and creatively productive conductors working in St. Petersburg” by Sergei Slonimsky, the Chamber Philharmonic’s American debut with three performances at Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall Festival in New York City were described by The New York Times as “impressive,” “powerful,” “splendid,” and “blazing.”

Meyer’s recent and upcoming projects and appearances include a newly developed multimedia performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Petrushka with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra; the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong with soprano Dawn Upshaw; the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Graffiti, performed and recorded alongside internationally renowned graffiti artists; a theatrical symphonic concert focused on themes of social justice developed in collaboration with Daniel Bernard Roumain and Marc Bamuthi Joseph; the world premiere recording of Laura Kaminsky’s Piano Concerto with pianist Ursula Oppens; and a new, semi-staged production of Nkeiru Okoye’s Invitation to a Die-In. He also led nearly one dozen world premieres of new works and engagements with the Sichuan Symphony, Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, and the Grossman Ensemble in Chicago.

Passionate about working with young musicians and music education, Meyer led the orchestra program at Arizona State University (ASU) and is an active adjudicator, guest clinician, and master class presenter. Prior to his appointment at ASU, he was the director of orchestras at Ithaca College for over a decade.

He has given master classes throughout the United States as well as Canada and Asia, and in addition to the Jacobs School of Music, recently led conducting master classes at the Central Conservatory in Beijing, China, Tianjin Conservatory, the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, and the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Meyer holds degrees in piano and composition and completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance degree with Gilbert Kalish at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.