Alex Prior

Former Chief Conductor

London-born, 29-year-old Prior has performed in orchestras from Munich to Seattle, Hong Kong to St. Petersburg. His first season as ESO Chief Conductor began in 2017, which coincided with the Winspear Centre’s 20th anniversary. His final season as ESO Chief Conductor wrapped up in 2022.

He has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments, both as a conductor and composer. At the age of 13, his ballet Mowgli, commissioned by the Moscow State Ballet, received international critical acclaim. He was the youngest student since Sergei Prokofiev to graduate with distinction as a conductor from the Conservatoire in St. Petersburg at the age of 17. He has been awarded Conducting Fellowships at the Boston Symphony's Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival and has conducted numerous orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony, the Victoria Symphony, and the New World Symphony.