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Steven Osgood, with his unique combination of theatrical and musical background, brings to the podium a musical incisiveness and dramatic insight which is rare in today’s emerging conductors.  He has proven his expertise in repertoire ranging from the Baroque through this century’s most challenging scores, and is quickly becoming a much sought after conductor across North America.

From 2001 to 2008 Mr. Osgood was Artistic Director of American Opera Projects, a company dedicated to the development and production of new operatic works.  With AOP he conducted the world premieres of Paula Kimper’s Patience and Sarah at the 1998 Lincoln Center Festival, and Janice Hamer’s Lost Childhood at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv in 2007.  He created the company’s nationally recognized Composers and the Voice Workshop Series, and led workshops of dozens of works in development, including most recently Tarik O’Regan’s Heart of Darkness, Conrad Cummings’ The Golden Gate, and Séance on a Wet Afternoon by Stephen Schwartz.

Mr. Osgood’s commitment to contemporary opera extends well beyond his work with American Opera Projects.  He prepared the world premiere production of Tan Dun’s first opera Marco Polo for the Munich Bienalle in 1996.  Tan then invited him to conduct the world premiere production and tour of his second opera Peony Pavilion, with director Peter Sellars.  Mr. Osgood also conducted the world premiere of Jonathan Sheffer’s Blood on the Dining Room Floor in its critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run.  With the Santa Fe Opera he was Assistant Conductor for the world premieres of Peter Lieberson’s Ashoka’s Dream, and Bright Sheng’s Madame Mao, as well as the American premieres of Hans Werner Henze’s Venus und Adonis, and Kaija Saariaho’s L’amour de loin.  With Dicapo Opera Theater he has conducted Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, and the American premiere of the chamber version of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin.  Mr. Osgood led Manhattan School of Music’s productions of Lukas Foss' Griffelkin, and Lee Hoiby’ rarely heard A Month in the Country, a recording of which is available on Albany Records.

Mr. Osgood has worked with many of North America’s premiere opera companies, including the Lake George Opera Festival, Canadian Opera Company, and the San Francisco Opera.  He made his New York City Opera debut conducting La bohème in 2003.  In 2006 he made his debut with Edmonton Opera conducting the renowned Robert LePage production of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung.  He joined the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera in 2006 as Assistant Conductor for the world premiere of Tan Dun’s The First Emperor, and added productions of La Traviata and Phillip Glass' Satyagraha in the 2007/08 season.

The 2008/09 season features the world premiere of Xenakis's Oresteia at the Miller Theater, directed by Luca Vegetti; Tan Dun's Marco Polo with De Nederlands Opera, directed by Pierre Audi; and a return engagement with Edmonton Opera to conduct La Traviata.   Summer 2009 brings an orchestral concert with the Wintergreen Symphony, and Mr. Osgood's debut with Chautauqua Opera conducting Tosca.  Mr. Osgood marks the beginning of the 2009/10 season with his Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony debut, in a program featuring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre.