Timothy Russell is one of America’s most versatile and dynamic conductors and foremost music educators. He is also one of the world’s only major conductors who has maintained an active research presence throughout his career of over thirty-five years.

Dr. Russell is in his 20th year as a Professor of Music at Arizona State University, where he teaches, conducts, and directs the School’s doctoral orchestral conducting program.

This is his 34th season as the co-founder and music director of the award-winning ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, Ohio. It is his twelfth season conducting Ballet Arizona’s collaborations with The Phoenix Symphony, including the annual production of The Nutcracker. He has directed the Company’s full-length productions of Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Giselle, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, the premiere of Ib Andersen’s Play, and three Balanchine Tributes. Senior Dance Critic for the New York Times Alastaire Macaulay has applauded “the performance by the Phoenix Symphony led by guest conductor Timothy Russell (taut, brisk tempos and handsome playing).” Maestro Russell accompanied Ballet Arizona at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for three performances as part of the series “Ballet Across America.”

Russell was presented the 2006 Ohioana Pegasus Award, given for his “unique and outstanding accomplishments in the arts and humanities.” Past winners have included folk artist Elijah Pierce, Vietnam Veterans Memorial designer Maya Lin, conductor Erich Kunzel, and entertainers Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, and Roy Rogers.

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