Michael Gesme
Music Director and Conductor

Michael Gesme will be starting his tenth season as Conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and Associate Professor of Music at Central Oregon Community College. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he founded the Luther College Chamber Orchestra, and a Masters of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In his first season in Central Oregon (1996-1997), Michael conducted thirteen performances: six with the Central Oregon Symphony, and seven with COCC’s Magic Circle Theatre. A great deal of growth and change has occurred in our region over the past six years and this season Michael will be conducting no fewer than twenty-five performances with four different organizations: COS, Obsidian Opera Company, Obsidian Opera Chamber Orchestra, and the Cascade Winds. In addition, he was recently appointed as Music Director and Conductor of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in McMinnville, Oregon.

Michael and his wife, Janet, (who is sitting in the cello section) are the proud parents of Alexander and Zeta.

Michael can be reached at mgesme@cocc.edu