James Bagwell maintains an active schedule as a conductor of choral, orchestral, and opera repertoire. In 2015 he was named associate conductor of The Orchestra Now (TŌN), and in 2009 he was appointed principal guest conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra (ASO). From 2009–2015 he served as music director of The Collegiate Chorale. Highlights with the Chorale included conducting rarely performed operas at Carnegie Hall, including Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda, Rossini’s Möise et Pharaon, and Boito’s Mefistofele. He conducted the New York premiere of Philip Glass’s Toltec Symphony and Osvaldo Golijov’s Oceana at Carnegie Hall. His performance of Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday at Alice Tully Hall was recorded live for Gaslight Records and is the only complete recording of the work. 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. He has collaborated since 2011 with singer and composer Natalie Merchant, conducting orchestras across the country, including the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
Mr. Bagwell is a regular guest conductor for the Tulsa Symphony (TSO), leading it in performances of Requiems by Mozart, Brahms, and Britten, as well as Mahler’s First Symphony. In January 2025 he led a rare performance of Carl Nielson’s symphony The Inextinguishable, and in May 2026 he will conduct Mahler’s Second Symphony in celebration of the TSO’s 25th anniversary season.
A noted preparer of choruses, Mr. Bagwell has trained choruses for numerous American and international orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, NHK Symphony (Japan), St. Petersburg Symphony, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. As chorus master for the ASO, he has received numerous accolades for his collaborations with Leon Botstein performing rare choral works at Carnegie Hall. Since 2003 he has been director of choruses for the Bard Music Festival, conducting and preparing choral works.
Mr. Bagwell is professor of music at Bard College, director of performance studies in the Bard College Conservatory of Music, and co-director of the Graduate Conducting Program.
James Bagwell will conduct TŌN on November 15 & 16, 2025. He previously conducted the orchestra on August 15, 2025; November 2 & 3, 2024; September 21 & 22, 2024; March 4 & 5, 2023; March 4 & 6, 2022; February 21, 2021; September 12, 2020; September 5, 2020; March 6 & 8, 2020; August 16, 2019; April 14, 2019; December 21, 2018; December 2, 2018; September 14, 2018; March 16 & 18, 2018; February 3 & 4, 2018; October 1 & 3, 2017; August 12, 2017; April 1 & 2, 2017; February 25 & 26, 2017; August 12, 2016; March 18, 2016; November 14 & 15, 2015; and October 11, 2015.
Bio: Aug 2025