David Grandis Virginia Chamber Orchestra Music Director

Maestro David Grandis is Music Director of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at the College of William and Mary. He is one of the most accomplished young conductors appearing on both sides of the Atlantic. Prior to the pandemic, when in Europe he regularly served as Assistant Conductor of the historic Lyon National Opera.

A native of France, Grandis’ guest conducting appearances include the Bordeaux National Symphony and Nice Philharmonic in France, the Minsk Philharmonic Orchestra (Belarus), and the New Symphony Orchestra of Sofia (Bulgaria). Past positions as Assistant Conductor have included: the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in Maryland, the Capital City Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., the Baltimore Opera Company, and the National Philharmonic, where he served as Cover Conductor.

He has participated in several master classes with Marin Alsop, Gustav Meier, Rossen Milanov, Misha Kats, John Farrer, Daniel Lewis, and Donald Thulean.

Mr. Grandis has an equal interest in both symphonic and lyric literature. His doctoral thesis, A la recherche du chant perdu ©, analyses the French style of opera singing and celebrates the era of the RTLN and its lyric company. It will soon be published in French and English. He has also studied voice for several years and performed roles in productions of Pagliacci (Silvio), Werther (Albert), Pélléas et Mélisande (Pélléas), Faust (Valentin), and Die Zauberflöte (Papageno). Albert Lance invited him to conduct productions of Gounod’s Faust and Puccini’s Il Tabarro in France. Mr. Grandis returned as Assistant Conductor at the Lyon National Opera in April 2013 for Strauss’ Capriccio.