Acclaimed for his creative programing and versatility, conductor André Raphel is renowned for his compelling musical performances. A dynamic podium presence, he has developed a reputation as a skilled communicator. Raphel has led critically acclaimed festivals, world premieres, and commissioned works of Richard Danielpour, Jennifer Higdon, Kenneth Fuchs, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, and Hannibal Lokumbe. In the 2024/25 season, André Raphel began as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Laureate of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Raphel led the orchestra as Music Director for 15 years. Other key positions have included Assistant Conductor to Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic, Assistant Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony. Raphel enjoys a busy career as guest conductor. In June 2025, André Raphel made his Berlin debut leading the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. He made his European debut with the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, and he has also led the Moravska Philharmonie. Further international engagements have included appearances with the Auckland Philharmonia, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Columbia, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica. In the United States, André Raphel has appeared with most major American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra. Further engagements include the symphonies of Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis, Seattle, and Wheeling, as well as the National Symphony. He made his Carnegie Hall debut leading Robert Shaw and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in a concert celebrating the centennial of mezzo-soprano Marian Anderson, In the festival circuit, Raphel has led concerts at the Blossom Music Festival and Tanglewood Music Center. He has also appeared at the Mann Center, Grant Park Music Festival, Brevard Music Festival, and the Campos do Jordao Festival in Brazil. As a recording artist, the Boston Globe praised André Raphel’s performance of Uri Caine’s Passion of Octavius Catto with the Boston Symphony, listing it among “10 Memorable Classical Music Moments from 2023.” He also led Germany’s Bamberg Symphony in two recordings for Bavarian Broadcasting. Raphel has a strong commitment to education and community engagement reflected in his leadership of conservatories and training programs. He has directed the Juilliard Orchestra, New World Symphony, Kennedy Center Summer Music Institute, and the National Orchestral Institute. During his tenure with the Saint Louis Symphony, he served as Music Director of the orchestra’s “In Unison” program, a partnership connecting the orchestra with local churches and enriching regional communities. André Raphel is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. He received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Brevard Music Center, a Distinguished Service Award from Yale University, and an Honorary Doctorate from West Liberty University. The North Carolina Senate awarded Raphel the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine,” the state’s highest honor for a civilian. In addition, the Philadelphia Orchestra issued a special commemorative CD featuring Raphel conducting William Grant Still’s Symphony No.1. Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, North Carolina, Raphel began formal music lessons at 11. He received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami before pursuing further study at Yale University under Otto-Werner Mueller. He continued studies with Mueller at the Curtis Institute of Music, earning a Diploma in conducting. He completed his formal studies at the Juilliard School, where he was awarded the Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship and received an Advanced Certificate in orchestral conducting.