Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong is the Music Director of the Eugene Symphony in Oregon and the Santa Rosa Symphony in Northern California. He has appeared with orchestras around the world, including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, St. Louis Symphony and Hong Kong Philharmonic, and collaborated with top soloists including Renée Fleming and Itzhak Perlman. 

During his successful tenures as Associate Conductor with the Milwaukee Symphony under Edo de Waart and the Pittsburgh Symphony under Manfred Honeck, Francesco also dedicated his time to opera, building his credentials as staff conductor with the Santa Fe Opera, and conducted Madama Butterfly at the Florentine Opera with the Milwaukee Symphony. 

The renowned conductor is the recipient of several distinctions, including the prestigious Solti Foundation Award. He has had the privilege of being mentored and supported by celebrated conductors including Bernard Haitink, David Zinman, Edo de Waart, Manfred Honeck, Donald Runnicles and Michael Tilson Thomas.