Biography

Linus Lerner, D.M.A.

Maestro Lerner is praised for bringing charismatic and passionate energies to music performances with a fluency that buoys audiences, listeners and performers alike.  (For reviews click here)
Equally at home on the symphonic and choral podium, or in the opera pit, Maestro Lerner has conducted orchestras, operas, choruses and instrumental groups at home, in the United States, Bulgaria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico and China. 

For reviews click here

He is currently artistic director of both The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra in Tucson, AZ (www.sasomusic.org), and, Bayou City Performing Arts in Houston, TX (www.bayoucityperformingarts.org), while serving also as guest conductor, clinician and coach to various groups in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and China.  Under his leadership, the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra toured 5 cities in China during 2009/2010 seasons, and will return to China this winter upon receiving a repeat invitation based on outstanding performances and review. 

Lerner has previously served as associate conductor for Opera in the Ozarks (La Traviata, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Tallahassee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Arizona Philharmonic.  In the United States, he guest conducted for Opera in the Heights (Die Fledermaus and Pearl Fishers), Brooklyn Opera Company (Un Ballo in Maschera), The University of Colorado Opera at Boulder (Semele) and was assistant conductor for the Arizona Opera (La Cenerentola).  In 2008, Linus founded the Southern Arizona Opera Company where he conducted performances of Die Lustige Witwe, Only a Miracle and Suor Angelica.

International conducting guest engagements include the Orchestra Nacional de Valles, in Spain, the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras of Porto Alegre, Brazil, the International Opera Workshop in Bulgaria (Don Giovanni and Carmen) and Czech Republic (Le Nozze di Figaro), the Solistas Ensamble del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico, the Symphony Orchestra Primavera, in Mexico, the National Film and Radio Orchestra and National Opera of China (first performance of Magic Flute in China),  and the Hunan and Fuzhou Symphony Orchestras in China. (For upcoming engagements and schedule, click here.)

For upcoming engagements
and schedule, click here.

With more than 20 years of experience also as a choral conductor, maestro Lerner serves as a clinician to various professional and community choruses, singers and conductors.  Dr. Lerner’s organic, natural and kinetic approach to conducting and singing is proving to be very effective and efficient.   

For more information on his approach and techniques or to schedule a master class,
click here.

Dr. Lerner completed his doctoral degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Arizona where he conducted the UA symphony orchestra in numerous symphonic performances and operas (Die Fledermaus, La Cenerentola, La Canterina, Die Zauberflote and The Merry Wives of Windsor) and led its 2002 Mexico tour.  In addition to his D.M.A., he holds a master's degree in orchestral conducting from Florida State University where he was assistant conductor of the FSU Orchestras, leading the groups in various performances including the America Premiere of the opera, Procedura Penale. He also holds a master's degree in voice performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati where he performed numerous operas, and he holds a bachelor's degree in choral conducting from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.