Jonathan Strasser

April 7, 2009 - Lincoln Center
Director

Jonathan Strasser, a graduate of the famed High School of Music and Art and Manhattan School of Music, has a career that has spanned four decades and four continents.

In the fall of 1978, he made his New York conducting debut with the Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall where he spent 15 seasons performing as both violinist and assistant conductor. He has performed at the Festivale Musicale di Salerno, served as Music Director of the New York State Music Camp/Institute's orchestral program at Hartwick College (NY), and appeared as a regular guest conductor with the Orquesta Sinfonica Venezuela in Caracas for more than 25 concerts. In 1995 he began a nine year association with the Staten Island Symphony, and was appointed Music Director in 1997. In addition, Maestro Strasser served as Music Director of the InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO) for 29 years during which he performed more than 250 concerts throughout the eastern US as well as tours to Venezuela and Spain.

For almost 30 years, Maestro Strasser taught and conducted at the famed LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. From 1969-1992 he was on the staff of the All-City High School Orchestra of New York and in 1982 was appointed principal conductor. Maestro Strasser has been a MSM Precollege faculty member since 1977 and has conducted the MSM Precollege Philharmonic for more than 20 years.