Michael Christie

The Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore has appointed Michael Christie as artistic director of ensembles. He will lead the programming and direction of the conservatory’s instrumental and vocal ensembles beginning in fall 2026.

Currently artistic and music director of the New West Symphony in California, Christie has served in leadership posts at the Phoenix Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Colorado Music Festival, the Queensland Orchestra, and Minnesota Opera, and has conducted U.S. and international orchestras and opera companies.

Christie graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance and was an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At Peabody, Christie will succeed Joseph Young, a 2009 conducting alumnus of the Peabody Conservatory.