Artistic Director
Michael Palmer has long been considered one of this country's finest conductors. Mr. Palmer began his career at age 21, when he came to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as assistant conductor at the invitation of Robert Shaw. He was soon made associate conductor, and also founded and was music director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. While in Atlanta, Michael Palmer was honored as one of five of the first conductors in the United States chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts to be Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor, and he was soon in demand with orchestras throughout the country. While continuing in his post in Atlanta, he was appointed guest conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra for a three-year period. He also worked extensively with the National Symphony Orchestra during this period, and he was, subsequently, named co-principal guest conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
After 10 years in Atlanta as associate conductor, Mr. Palmer accepted appointments as music director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra followed by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. In New Haven, he was recognized widely for his artistic accomplishments and for building the Orchestra to one of the finest of its kind in the nation. Carnegie Hall invited Michael Palmer and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to make their New York debut on its distinguished Visiting Orchestra Series in 1994. During his tenure as music director in New Haven, Mr. Palmer founded the American Sinfonietta, which toured Europe for 10 seasons under his leadership, playing to critical acclaim in the major concert halls of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This led to the creation of the Bellingham Festival of Music in 1993. Under his artistic leadership, the Festival has become internationally recognized for its artistry. As the founding Artistic Director, his concerts are heard across the nation on public radio and feature some of the finest orchestral musicians and major guest artists from the United States and abroad. He also maintains an active international guest conducting season each year and most recently, he maintains a working relationship with one of China's premiere orchestras, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
Michael Palmer joined the Georgia State University School of Music faculty as Director of Orchestras in August 2004. In 2006, he was honored by GSU and named as the Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies.
In addition to his regular concerts, he remains focused on building a legacy for future arts supporters and lovers of classical music, through his non-profit organization, Anacrusis Productions Ltd. (Website: anacrusisproductionslimited.org). His latest interest is in exploring and developing interdisciplinary arts projects. Please visit - maestropalmer.com - for more details about Maestro Palmer.
Associate Conductor
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Logan Souther is an imaginative and versatile musician whose artistry spans the podium, piano, and arts leadership. Equally at home in the opera pit, on the concert stage, and in community engagement, he has built a career defined by creativity, adaptability, and a belief in music’s power to inspire, educate, and connect audiences.
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He currently serves as Associate Conductor of The Hamptons Festival of Music (TH•FM), where he directs the Salon Series and Hamptons Music Club — programs that make classical music approachable for new audiences. With TH•FM, Logan has led the New American Sinfonietta in performances from Stravinsky to Tchaikovsky, conducted outreach concerts for hundreds of students, and presented a live orchestral accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin’s A Dog’s Life with The Hamptons International Film Festival.
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Logan’s command of both orchestral and operatic repertoire has taken him to the music staffs of Sarasota Opera, The Atlanta Opera, OperaNEO, The Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, and The Augusta Opera Initiative. He has served as Interim Music Director of the University of Georgia Opera Theatre and as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Georgia State University Opera Theatre, elevating artistic standards and expanding programming from Mozart to Stephen Paulus.
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On the symphonic stage, he has appeared as guest conductor with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the Georgia Festival of Music, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Bellingham Festival of Music, the premier orchestral festival of the Pacific Northwest. An expressive pianist, he frequently collaborates in recital and chamber music with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and New Jersey Symphony.
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A passionate advocate for community engagement, Logan partners with the Atlanta Music Project, an El Sistema–inspired organization, bringing orchestral and operatic music to audiences of all ages.
An enterprising artistic leader, he founded the Gainesville Sinfonietta at 19, developing it into a professional orchestra offering free concerts and cultural enrichment to North Georgia. He has also self-produced numerous orchestral events, successfully mobilizing funding to sustain the legacy of classical music in America.
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Logan began conducting studies at 15 with Michael Palmer, continuing with him at Georgia State University, where he earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting (2017) and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (2016). Additional mentorship includes Dwight Oltman and David Ef
Assistant Conductor
Eli Zelman serves as Assistant Conductor and Production Assistant for The Hamptons Festival of Music. In addition to assisting with conducting responsibilities, he supports the festival's production, library, housing, transportation, and operational needs during the annual season.
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Currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, Zelman earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Georgia State University, graduating summa cum laude. His experience spans conducting, administration, and production work with a variety of professional and educational organizations throughout the United States.