Conductor

Maestro Andrew Sewell is currently celebrating his twenty seventh season as music director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and tenth anniversary season with the San Luis Obispo Symphony. Previous music director appointments include the Wichita and Mansfield Symphonies, and resident conductor of the Toledo Symphony.  Known for innovative programming and a knack for discovering new talent, Sewell is a highly skilled orchestra builder with a wide knowledge and range of repertoire. As a guest conductor, he has led the Toronto, Detroit, Milwaukee, Columbus, Syracuse, Illinois, Monterey, Gulf Coast and Eugene Symphony Orchestras, and internationally the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony, Dunedin Symphony, National Symphony of Mexico, Kyushu Symphony, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, OK Mozart Festival, WI Peninsula Music Festival and Masterworks Festivals in IN, OH & SC. 

A native of New Zealand, Maestro Sewell received his music training on the violin, piano and cornet, and began conducting at age 16. Six years later, he made his professional opera debut with the Mercury Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.  Winning the Australian Guarantee Corporation’s Young Achiever’s Award allowed him to further his studies abroad. Sewell holds a Master of Music degree with Honors in Conducting from the University of Michigan.

Over the years he has been credited with numerous awards for services to music including the 2017 Service to Music Award from the Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras, the 2013 Rabin Arts Youth Award for Individual Achievement by the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, the 2005 Best Individual Artist Award by Wichita Arts Council, and 2005 Musician of the Year by the Wisconsin State Journal, for services to music and the greater arts community.   An avid cyclist, you will often see him at a local coffee shop, grocery store or cycling along the backroads of Wisconsin or San Luis Obispo.