Jacob Harrison

A versatile conductor, Jacob Harrison is an articulate and committed advocate for the performance of the great symphonic repertoire, opera and musical theater, the music of chamber orchestras, and contemporary music. Dr. Harrison is the Director of Orchestral Activities and teaches conducting at Iowa State University.

Before moving to Iowa, Dr. Harrison served as Music Director of the North Valley Chamber Orchestra in Phoenix, Arizona and was a cover conductor for the Phoenix Symphony.  Additionally, he has guest conducted such groups as the Arizona State University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, the Mill Avenue Chamber Players, the Phoenix Youth Orchestra, the Scottsdale Community Orchestra, the Arizona Repertory Orchestra, the Poston Junior High Orchestra Program in Mesa, and the Highland High School Orchestra Program in Gilbert.

In 2007, Harrison was appointed Resident Conductor of the Chapparal Music Festival, a new music festival in Prescott, Arizona. A passionate supporter of music that is created for our time, he continues to work with composers and has premiered numerous musical works for orchestras, wind ensembles and a wide variety of chamber ensembles.  Harrison was also a regular guest conductor with the Arizona Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) throughout his time in Arizona.

Jacob Harrison is equally at home conducting opera and music theater as he is conducting contemporary music and the great symphonic literature.  This past year, he conducted the ISU Department of Music and Theatre’s sold-out production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. In 2006, he was the conductor for the Arizona Lyric Opera Theatre production of Bela Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and was the assistant conductor, in 2007, for Arizona Lyric Opera Theatre’s production of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos.

His recent research has focused on the current state and future of American symphony orchestras.  Marin Alsop, Robert Spano, Michael Christie, David Itkin, and John Jeter have all been contributors to his research.