David Lockington
David Lockington has been music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony since January 1999 and has energized audiences and musicians alike while reaching new heights of artistic excellence. Prior to leading the Grand Rapids Symphony, he held the music directorships of both the Long Island Philharmonic (1996-2000) and New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (1995-2000). His conducting activities have also included serving as music director of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Denver Young Artist's Orchestra and Boulder Bach Festival. He was founder and conductor of the Academy in the Wilderness Chamber Orchestra and for three years held the post of assistant conductor with the Denver Symphony Orchestra and Opera Colorado. Mr. Lockington was assistant conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1992 and later was promoted to associate conductor. In 1993, he became music director of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra. In addition, to conducting the Grand Rapids Symphony, Mr. Lockington was recently appointed music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra in California.
Mr. Lockington conducts the Richard and Helen DeVos Classical Series, Rising Stars Series (formerly titled Casual Classics Series), Edward Jones Coffee Classics, Fox Motors Pops Series, Chase Picnic Pops, and Family Series concerts, in addition to special events, educational and festival concerts with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Mr. Lockington’s guest conducting engagements have included appearances with the Saint Louis, Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado and Oregon symphonies, the Buffalo, Rochester and Louisiana Philharmonics and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. Internationally, he has conducted the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in Beijing and Taiwan, led the English Chamber Orchestra on a tour in Asia and appeared with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias in Spain and Northern Sinfonia in Great Britain.
Recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include his debuts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Edmonton, Phoenix, Columbus (OH), North Carolina, Syracuse and Alabama symphonies as well as return engagements with the Indianapolis, Vancouver, Pacific, Nashville, San Diego and Kansas City symphonies, Louisville Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic. Mr. Lockington's summer festival activities include conducting appearances at the Grand Teton, San Luis Obispo Mozart, Interlochen, Chautauqua and Eastern Music festivals.
Mr. Lockington began his career as principal cellist with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. After completing his bachelor of arts degree at the University of Cambridge, he came to the U.S. on a scholarship to Yale University, where he received his master’s degree in cello performance and studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller. He was a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and served as assistant principal cellist for three years with the Denver Symphony Orchestra before turning to conducting.
Mr. Lockington arrived in this country in 1978 and is a U.S. citizen. He is married to violinist Dylana Jenson and they reside with their four children in Grand Rapids.