American conductor Zeke Fetrow has been selected as the next Music Director of the Concord Orchestra, taking the helm in the 2023 – 2024 season.  Already commanding international attention on the podium, he has appeared at the Khachaturian International Conducting Competition, Lliria City of Music International Orchestra Conducting Competition, Lake Como International Orchestra Conducting Competition, and the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition.  Equally at home in front of the orchestra, in the opera pit, or working with a chorus, Zeke’s versatile leadership and innovative programming are already making waves throughout the performing arts landscape.

Zeke received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he studied with Neil Varon.  He also served as the assistant conductor for Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, and Mark Gibson during their guest performances with the Eastman Philharmonia.  Zeke is the former Music Director and Conductor of the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra and has served as the Assistant Conductor of the Eugene Opera, Oregon Mozart Players, and Oregon Music Festival.  He holds a dual Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Oregon, working with Dr. Sharon J. Paul throughout his time as a choral conductor and with Dr. David M. Jacobs during his studies in orchestral conducting.  He has performed in workshops and masterclasses with many of the industry’s leading conducting teachers including: Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Mark Gibson, Brad Lubman, Matthew Halls, Matthew Oltman, Markand Thakar, Helmuth Rilling, Mark Scatterday, and Simon Carrington.

Zeke has extensive collegiate teaching experience in the United States.  Most recently appearing as the Conducting Fellow of the Cascade Conducting Festival, both performing and teaching conducting.  He has worked as the Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia and a Graduate Assistant on full scholarship at the Eastman School of Music, teaching conducting during his doctoral studies.  As a member of the music faculty at Concordia University he taught conducting, composition, ensemble performance, music history, arranging, and orchestration.  He is an accomplished singer who has performed and conducted across the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ireland, Armenia, Bulgaria, and Russia. He performed with the University of Oregon Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Sharon J. Paul, winning first prize in the 2013 Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland as well as second prize in the 2015 International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany.