Michael Wheatley is Music Director and Conductor of Philharmonia Northwest. A conductor, educator, and violinist, he approaches orchestral music with curiosity, imagination, and a belief that great performances are ultimately about communication and connection. His work with Philharmonia Northwest reflects a particular interest in adventurous programming, musical discovery, and the distinctive intimacy of the chamber orchestra.
Wheatley has conducted orchestras on three continents, including performances in Poland, Russia, and Ukraine, and has appeared with ensembles including the Rochester Philharmonic, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Chamber Opera. He previously served as Music Director of the Seven Hills Symphony in Cincinnati and Associate Conductor of the American Youth Philharmonic and Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
In his work with Philharmonia Northwest, Wheatley seeks to pair the highest musical standards with programs that give audiences something to discover. His programming ranges from the great symphonic repertoire to contemporary music, unexpected gems, and works that connect music with literature, history, and ideas. He is particularly interested in creating performances that are both musically compelling and inviting—concerts in which audiences can hear familiar works anew and encounter unfamiliar music with a sense of adventure.
Equally dedicated to music education, Wheatley is a frequent clinician and adjudicator and has led student orchestras at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Pierre Monteux School, and the Eastman School of Music.
Wheatley holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music and is an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors, and the Peter the Great Music Academy in Russia. He makes his home in Seattle and enjoys composing, reading, cooking, cycling, hiking, and kayaking.
- Website: michaelwheatley.com