Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis is in his ninth season as Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and is now The Symphonia's first Music Director, having served as its Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for five years. In past seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others.  His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.

Last season, Willis was re-engaged by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Salute to Vienna, and Seattle’s Music of Remembrance.  This season he returns to the Qatar Philharmonic, Music of Remembrance, and Gyor Philharmonic in Hungary.

Previous positions include Music Director of the Illinois Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England.  He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an Education degree from Kingston University, and a Masters of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.  Willis currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.