Eckart Preu

Who is Eckart Preu?

Eckart Preu is an East German-born conductor.

At the age of 10 he became a member, soloist and assistant conductor of the Boys Choir Dresdner Kreuzchor In Germany he earned a Masters Degree in Conducting from the Hochschule für Musik in Weimar studying under Gunther Kahlert and Nicolás Pasquet. He also studied under Jean-Sebastien Bereau at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in France.

Preu came to the United States as winner of the National Conducting Competition of the German Academic Exchange Service for graduate studies with Harold Farberman at the Hartt School of Music. Preu has been Music Director of the Spokane Symphony in Spokane, Washington since September 2004. He has also been music director of the Stamford Symphony in Stamford, Connecticut since 2005. For three seasons he was Associate Conductor of the Richmond Symphony. He also served as Resident Conductor with the American Symphony Orchestra and the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra. Former posts include Music Director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony and Principal Conductor of the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra. He was both Assistant and Guest Conductor at the Bard Music Festival. In Europe, Preu served as Music Director of L'Orchestre Internationale de Paris from 1993-95. Eckart Preu is also a frequent guest speaker for local businesses, community organizations and schools. He writes monthly articles for the local newspaper, the Stamford Advocate.