Conductor Christopher James Hisey is the Music Director and Founder of the Connecticut Philharmonic, Music Director and Founder of the American Chamber Orchestra, and Music Director of the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras. He has also served as the Music Director of the Civic Orchestra of New Haven, the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra, the Troupers Light Opera Company, and the Perrysburg Symphony Chorale as well as the Associate Conductor of both the Perrysburg Symphony and the Bowling Green Philharmonia and Opera Theater Orchestras.
Maestro Hisey has been a guest and cover conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony and has made appearances with the Ruse Philharmonic and Pleven Philharmonic in Bulgaria, and the St. Petersburg “Klassika” Symphony, formerly the Leningrad State Philharmonic, in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has conducted concerts throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and China. In addition, Maestro Hisey has conducted concerts with such notable musicians as Sir James Galway, Tim Janis, Jackie Evancho, James Dunham, Chris Finckel, Lara St. John, and Deborah Wong.
A champion of new music Maestro Hisey frequently premieres new works. Emmy Award Winning composer Rex Cadwallader recently said of Maestro Hisey’s work, “He is an advocate for new music, and a caring and careful medium through whom my music has been brought gracefully and powerfully to life.”
A passionate and sought after music educator Maestro Hisey frequently appears as guest adjudicator and clinician at schools and festivals throughout the region. His student orchestras have won top prizes in competition and have been invited to appear at Carnegie Hall, NAFME Eastern Music Festival and other festivals and concerts in the United States and abroad. He has served as Professor of Conducting, Orchestration and Music Director of the Orchestra at Manhattanville College and Professor of Conducting and Music Director of the Orchestra at Fairfield University. For the last 22 years he has served as Director of Orchestras and Chamber Music at Greens Farms Academy, in Westport, CT, and was recently named Chairman of the Performing Arts Department.
Maestro Hisey holds a bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from the Eastman School of Music and master’s degree in Conducting from Bowling Green State University. He has been fortunate to study conducting with Emily Freeman Brown, David Effron, Gustav Meier, Donald Portnoy, and Donald Hunsberger.
Mr. Hisey lives in Bridgeport with his wife, Heather and their 4 children, Lauren, Alex, Grace and James.