Vibrant, inspired performances, imaginative programming and an evocative command of different styles and composers are the hallmarks of American conductor Lawrence Golan. He currently serves as Music Director/Conductor of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (Washington), the York Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania), and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra & Opera Theatre at the University of Denver (Colorado). In addition, he is the Music Director Laureate of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.
Having conducted throughout the United States and in Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, Maestro Golan continues to develop relationships with orchestras nationally and abroad.
An accomplished violinist, Golan served as Principal Second Violinist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (1989-1990) and then Concertmaster of the Portland Symphony Orchestra for eleven years (1990-2001) before focusing his career on the podium. He has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and continues to perform, primarily to benefit the orchestras of which he is Music Director.
As a composer/arranger, Golan’s edition and reduced orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is published by Spurwink River Publishing. His scholarly-performing edition of the solo violin works of J. S. Bach, which includes a handbook on Baroque Performance Practice, and The Lawrence Golan Violin Scale System are both published by Mel Bay Publications. Golan’s Fantasia for Solo Violin is published by LudwigMasters. His original orchestral compositions, Fantasia for Orchestra and Giovanna d’ Arco (Joan of Arc), are both available through Notation Central.
Lawrence Golan was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 St. Cecilia International Music Competition in the UK and was also awarded First Prize in four different categories, both as conductor and composer. In addition, he is a 10-time winner of ASCAP Awards for the Innovative Programming of Contemporary Music, 5-time Global Music Award winner, 3-time American Prize winner, 3-time Downbeat Magazine Award winner, and 2-time Prestige Music Award winner. He was the Grand Prize Winner of the American Prize in Orchestral Programming and the First Place winner of the Ictus International Music Competition. Golan has made numerous commercial recordings, both as conductor and violinist, many of which have garnered international awards.
A native of Chicago, Golan has been Director of Orchestral Studies and head of the graduate conducting program at the University of Denver since 2001. Previous positions include Principal Guest Conductor, Bayerische Philharmonie in Munich, Germany (2022-2024), Music Director, Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (2013-2024), Resident Conductor, Phoenix Symphony (2006-2010), founder and Artistic Director, Atlantic Chamber Orchestra (1998-2003), Music Director, Portland Ballet Company (1997- 2013), and Music Director, Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra (1990-2001).