Our Conductor

Alexander Agrest

Mr. Agrest began his violin studies in Sukhumi, a small city on the Black Sea in Soviet Georgia. At the age of 13, he entered the Special Music School for Gifted Children in Leningrad.

Upon graduation, he entered the Leningrad State Conservatory, where he studied violin, viola and conducting. In 1974, he took the post of principal violin at the Leningrad Conservatory Opera Theater. In 1975, Mr. Agrest became a faculty member of the Zhdanov Music School in Leningrad.

In 1989 he immigrated to the U.S., becoming a core member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in 1991. He is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in conducting at the University of South Carolina.

He is an active chamber musician, performing with his wife, Rozolita, and son, Mikhail, at Piccolo Spoleto and many other festivals nationwide.

Mr. Agrest became the music director of The Summerville Community Orchestra in February, 2005. The orchestra has had amazing growth under his leadership.

Contact Alexander Agrest at maestro@summervilleorchestra.com