A graduate of the Fieldston School, New York, Andrew Litton holds degrees from the Juilliard School, having resolved from the age of 10 to be a conductor. The youngest-ever winner of the BBC International Conductors’ Competition, he served as assistant conductor at La Scala and as Exxon/Arts Endowment Assistant Conductor for the Washington, DC National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich. For six years he was principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, of which he remains conductor laureate, and for 12 years music director of the Dallas Symphony, of which he is now music director emeritus. He has conducted many major orchestras, and his varied recordings have won Grammy^® awards and nominations. In recognition of Litton’s advocacy of Elgar’s work, Britain’s Elgar Society presented him its 2007 award, one among many other honours, prizes and distinctions. In 2003 he became music director of the Bergen Philharmonic, while continuing a busy international career.