# Courtney Lewis

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Courtney_Lewis
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Courtney_Lewis.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Lewis
> Source revision: 1333755171
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Courtney Lewis** (born 29 May 1984, [Belfast](/source/Belfast), [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland)) is a British conductor. He is currently music director of the Jacksonville Symphony.

## Biography

Lewis was a pupil at the [Royal Belfast Academical Institution](/source/Royal_Belfast_Academical_Institution).[1] He attended the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge),[2] during which time he studied composition with [Robin Holloway](/source/Robin_Holloway) and clarinet with Dame [Thea King](/source/Thea_King), and conducted several students ensembles.[1] He graduated from Cambridge with starred first-class honours. After completing a master's degree with a focus on the music of [György Ligeti](/source/Gy%C3%B6rgy_Ligeti), he attended the [Royal Northern College of Music](/source/Royal_Northern_College_of_Music), where his teachers included Sir [Mark Elder](/source/Mark_Elder) and Clark Rundell.

Lewis was the co-founder and music director of Boston's [Discovery Ensemble](/source/Discovery_Ensemble) from 2008 until 2014, when the ensemble ended operations after its board declared a fundraising impasse.[3] Lewis made his major American orchestral debut in November 2008 with the [Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra](/source/Saint_Louis_Symphony_Orchestra).[1] Lewis served as associate conductor of the [Minnesota Orchestra](/source/Minnesota_Orchestra) from 2009 to 2014. He was a Dudamel Fellow with the [Los Angeles Philharmonic](/source/Los_Angeles_Philharmonic). From 2014 to 2016, he was an assistant conductor with the [New York Philharmonic](/source/New_York_Philharmonic).[4]

In 2014, Lewis was appointed music director of the [Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra](/source/Jacksonville_Symphony_Orchestra) (now the Jacksonville Symphony), effective with the 2015-2016 season. In August 2020, the Jacksonville Symphony announced an extension of Lewis' contract as its music director, through the 2023–2024 season.[5] In October 2022, the orchestra announced a further extension of Lewis' contract through 30 June 2027.[6] In December 2025, the Jacksonville Symphony announced the most recent extension of Lewis' contract as its music director through the 2031-2032 season.[7]

## References

1. Michael Dervan (2016-01-12). ["Conductor Courtney Lewis: ‘I didn’t want the lonely existence of staring at a blank page’"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/conductor-courtney-lewis-i-didn-t-want-the-lonely-existence-of-staring-at-a-blank-page-1.2488342). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 2026-01-19.

1. Danny Kelly (2014-09-04). ["The Cult of Courtney Lewis, the new Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Musical Director"](https://folioweekly.com/THE-CULT-OF-COURTNEY,10817). *Folio 2.0*. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

1. [Jeremy Eichler](/source/Jeremy_Eichler) (2014-07-23). ["Discovery Ensemble suddenly ceases operations"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/07/23/discovery-ensemble-suddenly-ceases-operations/UYN3gInkeH5emhluGmxOrK/story.html). *Boston Globe*. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

1. Marilyn Young (2014-09-26). ["Courtney Lewis finding a new sound with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra"](https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/courtney-lewis-finding-new-sound-jacksonville-symphony-orchestra). *Jax Daily Record*. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

1. Tom Szaroleta (2020-08-12). ["Symphony extends Courtney Lewis's contract for three years"](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/2020/08/12/jacksonville-symphony-renewed-its-contract-courtney-lewis/3349181001/). *Florida Times-Union*. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

1. ["Jacksonville Symphony Extends Contract with Music Director Courtney Lewis"](https://www.jaxsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Courtney-Lewis-Contract-Renewal-Release.pdf). Jacksonville Symphony. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2026-01-19.

1. ["Jacksonville Symphony Extends Music Director Courtney Lewis' Contract Through 2032"](https://www.jaxsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lewis-Contract-Extension.pdf). Jacksonville Symphony. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-19.

## External links

- [Official website of Courtney Lewis](https://courtneylewis.com/)
- [Arabella Arts agency page for Courtney Lewis](https://www.arabella-arts.com/roster/courtney-lewis#)
- [Official Instagram page of Courtney Lewis](https://www.instagram.com/thegingermaestro/)
- [Jeremy Eichler, 'Conductor Courtney Lewis is an artist to watch'. *Boston Globe*, 1 January 2012](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2012/01/01/conductor-courtney-lewis-artist-watch-classical-music/6uFBdNB8DO1o30ksfskwfO/story.html)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Courtney Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Lewis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Lewis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.