Interview: Grant O'Brien
My Conversation With The BPO’s New Conducting Fellow
On May 15, 2025 the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra announced the appointment of Grant O’Brien to the JoAnn Falletta Conducting Fellowship.
Grant has Western New York roots, as his grandmother lived on the Cattaraugus Reservation and he received his bachelors and masters degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He plays the tuba.
O'Brien succeeds Fernanda Lastra in the two year appointment and is the third conductor to hold this role. He will join the BPO in September following terms as Assistant Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony (2022-2024) and Augusta Symphony (2024-2025).
I spoke with Grant from his home in Jacksonville on May 22, 2025.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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