After Adam Flatt made his TSO debut in April of 2011 with works of Ravel, Glazunov and Tchaikovsky he was immediately invited to become the Symphony's sixth music director, marking the end of a search that began with more than 150 candidates. His first performance as Music Director came a few months later at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater with the TSO and the band Alabama in a sold-out benefit performance for Tuscaloosa tornado relief. Adam's eventful first season culminated with the "Tuscaloosa Remembers and Rebuilds" concert. His commitment to broadening the reach and deepening the local roots of the TSO was reflected in the TSO's first musical collaborations with the UA Opera Theater and the Alabama Choir School, as well as with Alabama composers and soloists.
Adam enjoys a very busy career that reflects his musical versatility. In addition to the Tuscaloosa community, Adam devotes himself to the Oregon coast where he is Music Director of the Newport Symphony, and to his base in Denver where he holds the same position with the Colorado Ballet. As time allows, he is also a guest conductor for many symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies across the United States. He has appeared with the major orchestras of Dallas, Houston and Saint Louis as well as dozens of regional ensembles.
An inspiring leader of talented young musicians, Adam serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music's Summerfest and the Rocky Ridge Music Center. Previously, he served an acclaimed seven-year tenure at the helm of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, one of American's finest youth orchestras. In Germany he recently was also in residency with the Landes-Jugend-Sinfonie-Orchester Saar. Adam brings not only musicianship but a tireless artistic advocacy and engaging stage presence everywhere he works.
Adam's professional career began as Apprentice Conductor of the Oregon Symphony. Marin Alsop invited Adam to come next to the Colorado Symphony as Associate Conductor, where he led over 250 performances in a successful five-year tenure.
A native of Sacramento, California, Adam has his bachelor’s degree in music with honors from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. He also studied in Austria, in Germany, and at the Aspen Music Festival. He lives in Denver with his wife Jenny and son Edgar.