James Bagwell maintains an active schedule as a conductor of orchestral, choral, and opera repertoire. In 2026 he was named principal conductor of the Tulsa Symphony (TSO) and principal conductor of the Berkshire Bach Orchestra and Chorus. In 2009 he was appointed principal guest conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and six years later named associate conductor of The Orchestra Now (TŌN). He has led both ensembles in concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City.
Bagwell has been a regular guest conductor for the TSO since 2007 and frequently appears as a guest conductor for orchestras around the country and abroad. He regularly appears with the Berkshire Bach Orchestra and Chorus, and in 2014 made his second appearance with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Since 2011, he has collaborated with singer and composer Natalie Merchant, conducting orchestras across the country. He conducted 25 productions as music director of Light Opera Oklahoma from 2000–08, has conducted the Amici New York Orchestra at the OK Mozart Festival, and led several theatrical works for Bard SummerScape, Little Opera Theatre of New York, and Teatro Grattacielo.
Bagwell has served as the music director of several choral groups. From 2005–10 he led The Dessoff Choirs in New York, and The Collegiate Chorale from 2009–15. He prepared the Chorale for numerous concerts at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland and for programs with the Israel Philharmonic in Israel and the Salzburg Festival. In addition to his own choral ensembles, Mr. Bagwell is in great demand internationally as a celebrated preparer of choruses. He has collaborated regularly with the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, primed The Concert Chorale of New York for performances with the New York Philharmonic, and prepared performances for the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel. As the long-standing chorus master for the ASO, he has prepared numerous rarely-performed choral works. He has trained choruses for several other American and international orchestras. Since 2003, he has been director of choruses for the Bard Music Festival.
Bagwell is professor of music and director of the music program at Bard College, and director of performance studies in the Bard College Conservatory of Music. He serves as co-director of the Bard Conservatory Graduate Conducting Program.
James Bagwell will conduct TŌN on October 31 & November 1, 2026. He previously conducted TŌN over 35 times.
Bio: Aug 2026