Meet the Director - Douglas Anderson Dr. Anderson is a conductor, composer, educator, and producer who has been active in the New York music scene for over 30 years. He began his professional career as a jazz musician at the age of 12, and made his professional debut as a conductor in 1973, leading the Boston Ballet in Peter and the Wolf on Broadway. Since then he has conducted a variety of ensembles and over 65 world premieres. He holds a doctorate in music composition from Columbia University, and is currently on the faculty of CUNY/Borough of Manhattan, where he is a Professor of Music and Chairman of the Music and Art Department. He is continually in demand as a clinician/adjudicator and for master classes. Dr. Anderson founded the American Chamber Opera Company in 1984 and conducts the Downtown Symphony in New York City. He is internationally known and a prolific composer, with a variety of works ranging from orchestral to opera to jazz. His opera entitled Medea in Exile, to a libretto by Andrew Joffe, premiered in June 2000. He also wrote the original scores for The King of Jazz, a radio play featured on National Public Radio in October, 2001, and Joshua and David, a movie by Michael Spenelli. He is often interviewed for various media, and his opinions on music as well as his own compositions, have been broadcast locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Anderson resides with his family in Kent, New York. Brief history of our prior directors.