Modern Conductor, The

Mark Gibson. Director of Orchestral Activities at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), University of Cincinnati, Mark Gibson enjoys a distinguished podium career both as a performer on the concert stage and in the opera pit and as a teacher and observer of the craft of conducting. As professor of ensembles and conducting at CCM, he serves as music director of the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, one of the world's leading conservatory orchestras, and heads CCM's program in orchestral conducting. During the summers, Mr. Gibson serves as co-artistic director and conductor of the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca (Italy), sponsored by the University of Cincinnati. Sought after both for conducting master classes and orchestral appearances, Mr. Gibson has been invited as guest professor of conducting at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, the Hochschule fur Musik and Theater, Munich, and the Indiana University School of Music, visiting professor of conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School of Music. A former Tanglewood conducting fellow, Mr. Gibson pursued conducting studies with Gustav Meier, Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein. He attended the University of Minnesota, studying piano with Paul Freed before earning his B.M. in piano at the New England Conservatory of Music with Theodore Lettvin. His conducting and opera studies began with Gustav Meier at the University of Michigan, from which he earned a M.M. degree. His students occupy podiums around the world, including Xian Zhang, first prizewinner of the inaugural Maazel/Vilar Conductors' Competition. Prior to joining the faculty of CCM, Mr. Gibson was principal conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a regular guest conductor with the New York City Opera, and resident conductor of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona.