Brent Chancellor joined Festival Napa Valley as a Conducting Fellow, participating in the festival’s prestigious Blackburn Music Academy and working alongside internationally acclaimed conductors, soloists, and orchestral musicians.
During the festival’s summer season, Chancellor served as Assistant Conductor for performances featuring artists including Joshua Bell, Angel Blue, Danielle de Niese, and conductor Stéphane Denève. The festival also features appearances by Bill Murray, Gloria Estefan, and the San Francisco Ballet as part of its internationally recognized summer programming.
Festival Napa Valley’s inaugural tuition-free music academy brings together emerging professional musicians from leading conservatories and universities across the United States and abroad. Chancellor collaborated with fellows and faculty artists in orchestral rehearsals, performances, and mentorship activities throughout the festival’s residency in Napa Valley.
The fellowship represents an important milestone in Chancellor’s early conducting career and places him among a new generation of conductors working at the intersection of orchestral performance, opera, and interdisciplinary artistic collaboration.
“Festival Napa Valley creates an extraordinary environment where emerging artists can learn directly from world-class musicians while performing at the highest level,” said Chancellor. “It’s an inspiring experience that combines artistic excellence, collaboration, and a real spirit of creative discovery. Working intimately with conductors like Martin West, Joel Revzen, and Stéphane Denève on major repertoire has been a profoundly rewarding opportunity.” — Brent Chancellor