American conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong has established himself as a respected leader in the orchestral world through his acclaimed performances, innovative projects, and passionate advocacy for the arts. He was appointed Music Director of two US orchestras, the Eugene Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony, before he turned 30. With those groups, he successfully launched several groundbreaking projects, commissioning over a dozen major orchestral works, and building innovative community partnerships.

Now, in his ninth season leading the Santa Rosa Symphony, he has grown the orchestra’s reputation as one of the most exciting and important regional orchestras in the US with performances at one of the most renowned concert halls in the world, the Green Music Center. In 2026, the Santa Rosa Symphony secured Lecce-Chong’s long-term leadership through a landmark evergreen agreement and named him Artistic & Music Director. More…