Music Director
James Allen Anderson
John W. Lambert, The Spectator:
“Destined to make his mark in a highly competitive field in which many are called but few are chosen”
James Allen Anderson is an award-winning Maestro, pianist, and composer celebrated for his innovative programming and compelling interpretations that captivate audiences worldwide. Recognized for his conducting versatility, he is equally at home leading concert and stage productions across North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Anderson currently holds three key leadership positions: Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Delaware, Music Director of the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, and founding Music Director and Conductor of SODELO (Southern Delaware Orchestra).
In high demand as a guest conductor, he has recently led the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, and the Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva. His previous leadership roles include Music Director of the Butte Symphony Association and Director of Orchestral Activities at Appalachian State University and the University of Montana.
A dedicated champion of contemporary composers, Maestro Anderson has led nearly 100 world premieres. His album of Mark Hagerty’s United Sounds of America, featuring Delaware’s Twin Poets (Al Mills and Nnamdi Chukwuocha), has been nominated in three categories for this year’s Grammy Awards. He is also a winner of the American Prize’s 2017 Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for Concert Programming and a recipient of the University of Delaware College of Arts and Science’s 2023 Outstanding Advocacy Award.
He is a pioneering force behind groundbreaking initiatives, including the Cultural Fusion Initiative (CFI) and the University of Delaware’s Cinema Symphony Series. A recent CFI collaboration with Nigerian director Tunde Kelani resulted in the feature film Cordelia, with the UD Symphony Orchestra providing the soundtrack. The film premiered at Lincoln Center and was subsequently picked up by Amazon Prime for international distribution in 2024. Maestro Anderson is a former President of the International Conductors Guild, having served 12 years on the board of directors, and is a member of its Advisory Council.
“Ovation after ovation rang from the standing audience, growing louder and louder as the leading ballerinas came forward. But when the conductor was led onto the stage, the roar rivaled that of the music he had led.”
— Kate Dobbs Ariail, Classical Voice of North Carolina