Kirk Muspratt (Music Director and Conductor) was recently named 2018 Conductor of the Year (Professional Orchestra) by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
Muspratt has previously been honored as a “Chicagoan of the Year” in classical music by John von Rhein and the staff of the Chicago Tribune. In honoring Muspratt, von Rhein said, “Ask the delighted adults and kids who this year flocked to his concerts at New Philharmonic … They will tell you he made concert going an interactive experience that was both enlightening and — are you ready? — fun.”
In 2017, New Philharmonic was awarded Professional Orchestra of the Year for the second time by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
In order to involve the DuPage community to the maximum, Muspratt has created “Just Ask Kirk™” cards for audience members’ questions and a “Kirkature™” cartoon to help advocate the credo: “Classical music is for everyone.”
From 1991 through 1996, Muspratt served as resident conductor to Lorin Maazel at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Prior to this, he was appointed as associate conductor to Joseph Silverstein at the Utah Symphony Orchestra (1990-1992). From 1987 through 1990, Muspratt served both as assistant conductor to Leonard Slatkin at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as well as music director of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. He was music director of the Alberta Ballet from 1997 through 1999. At the New YorkPhilharmonic, Muspratt has served as a cover conductor. In 2016 Kirk made his debut at the Joffrey Ballet.
Muspratt is a native of Crows Nest Pass, Alberta, Canada. Kirk became an American citizen in the summer of 2010.