Biography
Conductor George Manahan built notable careers across both symphonic and operatic realms, with a consistent emphasis on contemporary repertoire in each domain.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1952 to parents who worked as church musicians, Manahan began piano studies in childhood and later played drums in his high school marching band, where he served as drum major and gained conducting experience. He also directed an orchestra at the Six Flags over Georgia amusement park. These early opportunities led him to the Manhattan School of Music for training in piano and conducting under Anton Coppola and George Schick. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and his master’s in 1976, after which he joined the faculty and eventually became director of orchestral studies. Around the same time, a Juilliard School fellowship placed him as assistant conductor at New York’s American Opera Center.
Between 1983 and 1986 Manahan held the posts of conductor and interim music director with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra while also leading the Steve Reich Ensemble. In 1987 he was appointed music director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, where he integrated contemporary pieces into the programming and often supplied spoken introductions to challenging works. He held that position until 1998 and received five ASCAP awards for his adventurous programming choices. Opera engagements began with an emergency appearance at the Santa Fe Opera in 1980 for the U.S. premiere of Schoenberg’s Von Heute auf Morgen; subsequent work there was followed by a season at Omaha Opera and then the conductorship of the New York City Opera’s national touring company. In 1997 he became music director of the company’s mainstage. Guest engagements continued, and his first commercial recording came in 2002 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on the Naxos label in Edward Thomas’s Desire Under the Elms. He remained at New York City Opera until the post was eliminated in 2011. From 2013 to 2021 he served as music director of Portland Opera in Oregon. Additional recordings appeared on the Ravello, Albany, and ACO labels, and in 2023 he conducted the Warsaw Philharmonic in a Navona Records release of orchestral works by Anthony Iannaccone.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1952 to parents who worked as church musicians, Manahan began piano studies in childhood and later played drums in his high school marching band, where he served as drum major and gained conducting experience. He also directed an orchestra at the Six Flags over Georgia amusement park. These early opportunities led him to the Manhattan School of Music for training in piano and conducting under Anton Coppola and George Schick. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and his master’s in 1976, after which he joined the faculty and eventually became director of orchestral studies. Around the same time, a Juilliard School fellowship placed him as assistant conductor at New York’s American Opera Center.
Between 1983 and 1986 Manahan held the posts of conductor and interim music director with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra while also leading the Steve Reich Ensemble. In 1987 he was appointed music director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, where he integrated contemporary pieces into the programming and often supplied spoken introductions to challenging works. He held that position until 1998 and received five ASCAP awards for his adventurous programming choices. Opera engagements began with an emergency appearance at the Santa Fe Opera in 1980 for the U.S. premiere of Schoenberg’s Von Heute auf Morgen; subsequent work there was followed by a season at Omaha Opera and then the conductorship of the New York City Opera’s national touring company. In 1997 he became music director of the company’s mainstage. Guest engagements continued, and his first commercial recording came in 2002 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on the Naxos label in Edward Thomas’s Desire Under the Elms. He remained at New York City Opera until the post was eliminated in 2011. From 2013 to 2021 he served as music director of Portland Opera in Oregon. Additional recordings appeared on the Ravello, Albany, and ACO labels, and in 2023 he conducted the Warsaw Philharmonic in a Navona Records release of orchestral works by Anthony Iannaccone.
Albums
