Francesco Lecce-Chong
at 12 noon, Iron & Vine Restaurant

        Did you know that, during the height of the Cold War, the U.S. regularly sent jazz and classical ensembles to perform in Russia and elsewhere? Enter Santa Rosa Symphony conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, who will share his passion for how music must continue as an “international language” in dangerous times. His talk, MUSIC AS DIPLOMACY WHEN WE NEED IT MOST, with PowerPoint, audio, and video components, will underscore that music and musicians must continue serving as models for worldwide understanding. Examples include Lecce-Chong’s off-season conducting abroad; bringing multi-national soloists and composers to The Green Center; and experiences of the Symphony’s Youth Orchestra, which periodically performs overseas. He'll also address current challenges and controversies in the orchestra industry's response to world events.

        Born and raised in San Francisco, Maestro Lecce-Chong holds degrees from the Mannes College of Music in New York, the Curtis College of Music in Philiadelphia, and Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Sienna, Italy. He has been our Symphony conductor since 2018, bringing extraordinary energy and vision to all he does.

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