Music Director: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Principal Guest Conductor & Curator: BBC Concert Orchestra (from September 2024)

Edwin Outwater is redefining the concert experience as a groundbreaking conductor, curator, and producer, known for his dynamic approach and genre-blending collaborations. Working with a wide range of artists from Metallica to Wynton Marsalis, Renée Fleming, and Yo-Yo Ma, Outwater’s creative vision and ability to seamlessly navigate between musical worlds has made him one of the most sought-after conductors, with the legendary Michael Tilson Thomas aptly describing him as ​“one of the most innovative conductors on the scene today.” 

Outwater currently serves as Music Director of San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he leads their ensembles and oversees the institution’s bold artistic initiatives. From September 2024, he takes on an additional role as Principal Guest Conductor and Curator of BBC Concert Orchestra, working closely with the orchestra’s Director to deliver an exciting range of concerts, community and education work over the next three seasons. His legacy as Music Director Laureate of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, where he served from 2007 – 2017, remains influential, marked by global recognition through international tours, collaborations, and the critically acclaimed recording From Here On Out. 

Outwater’s recent high-profile engagements include appearances at major orchestras including New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic, where he headlined a multi-concert series at the grand opening of Steinmetz Hall in Florida. His collaborations extend to stars such as Diana Ross, Beck, Trey Anastasio, Leslie Odom Jr., and Lang Lang. As producer and Musical Advisor for National Symphony Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Concert at the Kennedy Center, he shared the stage with artists including Audra McDonald, Christian McBride, and Common.