Acclaimed for his vibrant, inspired performances, imaginative programming and evocative command of different styles and composers, American conductor Lawrence Golan has developed a reputation as a dynamic, charismatic communicator. He has conducted throughout the United States and in Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and continues to develop relationships with orchestras nationally and abroad.
Golan has served as Music Director of Denver Philharmonic Orchestra since 2013, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra in Washington state since 2010 and Pennsylvania’s York Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He is also Music Director of Colorado’s Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre at the University of Denver.
Highlights from recent seasons include return engagements with Italy’s Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Ballet Company and the Colorado Music Festival as well as debuts with Italy’s Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Mexico’s Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes, China’s Wuhan Philharmonic, the Maui Pops Orchestra, the Batumi Music Festival in Georgia, Eastern Europe, and a 14-city tour of China with the Denver Philharmonic.
Lawrence records for Albany Records. His latest release is the 2018 world premiere Blu-ray disc and audio CD of composer Jiaojiao Zhou’s theatrical symphonic poem Ode to Nature with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and producer Dennis Law. He has recorded three CDs with the Moravian Philharmonic: “Tchaikovsky 6 & Tchaikovsky 6.1;” “Funky Little Crustaceans;” and “Visions, Dreams & Memories. Other CDs include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 & William Hill’s Beethoven 7.1, and “Fantasia” and “Indian Summer: The Music of George Perlman,” the last two with Lawrence as violinist.
A native of Chicago, Lawrence’s previous positions include Resident Conductor, Phoenix Symphony (2006–2010), Music Director, Phoenix Youth Symphony (2006–2009), Music Director, Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras (2002–2006), 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). Lawrence and his wife Cecilia have two young children.