Leonard Slatkin

Bio

Leonard Slatkin is an American conductor renowned for his work with major orchestras, including long tenures as music director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. Born in Los Angeles in 1944, he comes from a distinguished musical family—his parents were musicians—and he studied at the Juilliard School before establishing himself as a leading interpreter of American and 20th-century repertoire. Throughout his career, Slatkin has championed contemporary composers while maintaining a deep commitment to the standard orchestral canon. He has recorded extensively, led prominent ensembles in the United States and Europe, and served as director of several international summer festivals. His conducting is noted for clarity, balance, and advocacy of new music alongside traditional masterworks.