About Maestro Moody

Full Biography

Internationally acclaimed conductor Robert Moody in currently enjoying his 18th season as Music Director of Arizona Musicfest, his 9thseason as Music Director of The Memphis Symphony Orchestra (Tennessee), and celebrates his inaugural season as Music Director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.

Under his artistic leadership, AZ Musicfest has become the premiere Winter Music Festival Orchestra in North America, boasting a roster comprised of players from the world’s greatest orchestras.  The Memphis Symphony has enjoyed exponential growth in programming, recording, new commissions, and endowment growth to well over $25 Million dollars. Baltimore Chamber Orchestra boasts top players from the largest orchestras in the Baltimore/Washington area and presents innovative and “out of the box” live orchestral programming at world class levels in the Mid-Atlantic.  In 2022 he was named Principal Conductor for Lakeland Opera (FL); he leads one major opera production each January with LO, recently including Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana and Puccini Madama Butterfly.  Man of La Mancha is the production for January 2025.

Prior positions have included music director for both the Portland Symphony (Maine) and the Winston-Salem Symphony (North Carolina).  Earlier in his career, he held conducting positions with the Phoenix Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Santa Fe Opera, Brevard Music Center, Interschool Orchestras of New York City, and apprenticed at Landestheater Opera in Linz, Austria.

He has led many of the major orchestras and opera companies of the world, including Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Dallas and Houston Symphonies, Minnesota Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Aachen and Baden Baden Symphony Orchestras in Germany, Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogotá (Colombia), and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra (Austria).  He is also a frequent guest conductor in South Africa, and he will return next June for concerts with the three major orchestras there – the Cape Town, Johannesburg, and KZN (Durban) Philharmonics.

In addition to South Africa, guest conducting debuts this season include Kansas City Symphony/Lyric Opera of Kansas, Tulsa Philharmonic, Tampere Philharmonic (Finland), and Timasoara Philharmonic (Romania).  He also returns to Sewanee Summer Music Festival (TN), National Repertory Orchestra (CO), Portland Symphony (ME), and the Greensboro Symphony (NC).

A frequent collaborator with opera superstar Renée Fleming, he will conduct her on multiple occasions in the upcoming season, featuring Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light (also with Rodney Gilfry) and “Voice of Nature,” the song cycle created with Ms. Fleming and National Geographic.

Moody’s work is available on several commercial recordings, including the Canadian Brass albums Bach and Legends, R. Carlos Nokai’s Fourth World album, and with Memphis Symphony Orchestra and trumpet legend Ryan Anthony on his Re:Mission Rubato album.

Robert is also a close friend and collaborator with Grammy winning composer Mason Bates.  Their friendship spans over 30 years, and Moody was the first conductor to commission a full orchestral work from Bates. Robert also commissioned several major works of Mason’s, including Rusty Air in Carolina, and the much lauded Desert Transport.  He is excited to lead a premiere performance of Bates’ newest concerto – a triple concerto for Grammy winning ensemble Time For Three.

A South Carolina native, Moody holds degrees from Furman University and the Eastman School of Music, where he earned his conducting degree with Donald Neuen.  Additional studies included an undergraduate term abroad in Vienna, Austria, and a summer of study with Otto Werner Mueller at Le Domaine Forget in Quebec. He is a Rotarian and has served on the boards of AIDs Care Services, Winston-Salem YMCA, WDAV Classical Radio, and the Charlotte Master Chorale.

Moody celebrates the life and work of organist/conductor Jimmy Jones, his spouse of 18 years who passed away unexpectedly early in 2024.  He now dedicates all his musical endeavors to Jimmy.

Moody lives in Memphis with their two dogs; he is an avid runner, swimmer, history buff, “Jeopardy!” addict, and snow-skier.

Short Biography

Internationally acclaimed conductor Robert Moody is well known as guest conductor to the world’s greatest orchestras, including Chicago Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra (Austria), and many major orchestras around the world.

Moody, recently named Music Director for the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (MD) is also music director for Memphis Symphony Orchestra (TN) and Arizona Musicfest, as well as Principal Conductor for Lakeland Opera (FL).

Prior to these positions he was music director for both the Portland Symphony Orchestra (Maine) and Winston-Salem Symphony (NC), and on conducting staffs for Phoenix Symphony, Santa Fe Opera, Brevard Music Center, and the Interschool Orchestras of New York City.

Current and upcoming highlights include return engagements with the three top orchestras in South Africa, debuts with Shenzhen and Wuxi Symphonies (China) as well as Kansas City Symphony/Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Buffalo Philharmonic, Tulsa Philharmonic, and debuts with top orchestras in Finland and Romania.  He collaborates often with opera superstar Renée Fleming, and will also lead concerts with Time For Three, Timothy Chooi, Rodney Gilfry, Charlie Albright, Mason Bates, and Bryan Cheng.

Moody’s work can be heard on multiple commercial recordings, including Stephenson’s “Concerto for Hope” with legendary trumpet player Ryan Anthony and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Maestro Moody holds degrees from Furman University (SC) and the Eastman School of Music (NY).  He is a runner, swimmer, history buff, “Jeopardy!” addict, and snow-skier.