Conductor Lee Mills has been named executive director of the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, which presents visiting orchestras in Palm Desert, CA. Photo by Cicero Rodrigues.
In Friday’s (1/26) Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA), Jeff Hocker writes, “The Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic (PS Phil) has named acclaimed conductor Lee Mills as its new executive director. He is assuming the position during the organization’s 50th anniversary season.” The organization presents visiting orchestras in Palm Desert, California. “As associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Mills [led] dozens of performances … From 2014 to 2019, Mills served as resident conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro … In 2014, Mills was the assistant conductor … for Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA. His project Vibe Sinfônica, initiated in 2018 in partnership with nightlife producer The Week Group in São Paulo, has brought classical music to thousands of new listeners … In the fall of 2022, Mills was the Solti Foundation U.S. resident at Lyric Opera of Chicago … Mill has conducted … orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Current executive director Marnie Mitze will remain as a Special Consultant over the next three months.” Mill participated in the League of American Orchestras’ Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview in 2018.
