James DePreist

American conductor James DePreist (b. 1936) studied at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music but also holds a Bachelor's degree in economics and a Master's degree in film. His interests extend to jazz, and he was the manager and drummer of a successful jazz quintet. A tour to the Far East in 1962 and subsequent victory in the 1964 Mitropoulos Conducting Competition were the prelude to his successful conducting career.