Robert Franz

Acclaimed conductor Robert Franz, recognized as “an outstanding musician with profound intelligence,” has held to three principles throughout his career: a commitment to the highest artistic standards, to creating alliances and building bridges in each community he serves, and a dedication to being a strong force in music education. 

His appeal as a first-rate conductor and enthusiastic award-winning educator is acclaimed by critics, composers and audiences of all ages. Composer Bright Sheng praised Franz for his “extremely musical and passionate approach towards music making.” Franz is in increasing demand as a guest conductor, having collaborated with the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Italy’s Orchestra da Camera Fiorentinas and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Credentials

• Music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra since 2013. 
• Artistic director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra.
• Recently concluded a fourteen-year tenure as associate conductor of the Houston Symphony
• Co-founder and conductor of the Idaho Orchestra Institute, now in its seventh year, where Franz takes young musicians on an exploration of major orchestral repertoire that explores the complete musician.
• Served as associate conductor of the Houston Symphony (2008-2022)
• Previously the music director of the Boise Philharmonic (2008-2016) and the Mansfield Symphony in Ohio (2003-2010).

Career Highlights

• Performanced with a wide array of artists, including James Galway, Joshua Bell, Rachel Barton Pine, Chris Botti, Idina Menzel and Chris Hadfield.
• Worked with composers such as John Harbison, Jennifer Higdon and Jordan Pal.
• Presented a TEDx Talk entitled Active Listening and Our Perception of Time.
• Led the North American premiere of Author Dan Brown’s musical children’s book, Wild Symphony.
• Under Franz's leadership, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra released its first commercial recording in 15 years, “Christmas, eh.”
• As the artistic director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra, Franz successfully launched an outdoor summer concert series at the Chateau des Fleurs in Eagle, Idaho. He also curated a digital concert series and partnerships with Opera Idaho, the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, and with various educational institutions. 
• Recognized by The Windsor Endowment for the Arts with its Arts Leadership Award.
• Honored with the Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership, celebrating his immense success in advancing the Houston Symphony's education and community engagement activities.