Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic selects new exec director
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 with a blockbuster list of world-renowned orchestras from the United States and United Kingdom.
Mills looks forward to bringing his extensive orchestral experience to the role of presenter for the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, one of the world’s premier series of internationally acclaimed touring orchestras.
Five-time winner of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Mills is internationally recognized as a passionate, multifaceted and energetic conductor. In naming him the New Artist of the Month in March 2022, Musical America praised Mills’ “omnivorous musical temperament eager to try out highly contrasting musical styles and approaches.”
As associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Mills was an invaluable asset, giving dozens of performances, including the 2020 season opening gala on Seattle Symphony Live and recording multiple albums with the orchestra. From 2014 to 2019, Mills served as resident conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro, where he helped reshape the organization’s mission to focus heavily on education and social responsibility. In 2014, Mills was the assistant conductor to David Robertson for Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.
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 through performances in unusual settings. In its inaugural performance, Vibe Sinfônica performed music of Vivaldi at The Week Group’s 14th anniversary in São Paulo, playing to a crowd of over 10,000 EDM (Electronic Dance Music) fans and opening for DJ Offer Nissim.
In the fall of 2022, Mills was the Solti Foundation U.S. resident at Lyric
Opera of Chicago, where he worked with maestro Enrique Mazzola on the Lyric’s production of Verdi’s Don Carlos. Mills has conducted many of the leading orchestras in the United States, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra.
“From his experience conducting, Mills knows the symphony orchestra industry intimately,” said Dean Kauffman, president of the Palm Springs Philharmonic board of directors. “His soon-tobe completed MBA at the University of Illinois attests to his ambition beyond conducting, and his planned move to the Coachella Valley was a major plus in our selection process. The PS Phil executive director position seems a perfect fit for him and for us.”
Current executive director Marnie Mitze will remain as a Special Consultant over the next three months to ensure a smooth transition.
PS Phil is one of the world’s premiere concert presenters of classical music. providing an annual series of internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra performances to the Coachella Valley. The organization also fosters music appreciation for local youth and encourages promising young musicians through scholarships, education and instrument donation programs.
For subscriptions, tickets and more information on ways to support Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, call (760) 341-1013, or visit psphil.org.
Jeff Hocker is the publicist and marketing consultant for the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic.