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Benjamin Zander          

Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra; Celebrated Leadership & Performance Expert

Benjamin Zander started his early musical training in his native England with cello and composition lessons under the guidance of his father. When he was nine, Benjamin Britten, England's leading composer, took an interest in his development and invited the family to spend three summers in Aldeburgh in Suffolk where he lived. This led to a long association with Britten and lessons in theory and composition from Britten’s close associate Imogen Holst, daughter of Gustav Holst.

In 1967, Zander joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory, where he taught the interpretation class, conducted the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and regularly conducted the conservatory orchestras. Twenty years ago, he became the artistic director of the joint program between NEC and Walnut Hill, a boarding high school for the performing arts in Natick, Massachusetts. During his tenure as conductor of the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic, he took the orchestra on over a dozen international tours and made five commercial recordings and several PBS documentaries. In 1979, he became the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.

Zander has established an international reputation as a guest conductor. He has a unique relationship with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London and is recording a series of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies for the Telarc label with them. His recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 was awarded the 2004 Critic’s Choice by the German Record Critic’s Award Association, and his recording of Mahler’s 9th Symphony was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Zander has an extensive speaking career, traveling the world lecturing to organizations on leadership. He has appeared four times as a keynote speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he was presented with the Crystal Award for "outstanding contributions in the arts and international relations." The best-selling book The Art of Possibility, co-authored with his partner, leading psychotherapist Rosamund Zander, has been translated into 16 languages.

Speech Topics


The Art of Possibility

Playing on One Buttock

Conducting Your Company

Benjamin Zander is widely acknowledged as one of the most effective and engaging presenters in the world today!

Tom Peters calls him "the hottest property on the business guru circuit " This brilliant symphony conductor uses the analogy of the orchestra to demonstrate how an organization can come together as a team and unleash its full potential.

Benjamin Zander, renowned conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, has been a Key-note speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos for three consecutive years. He engages passionately with orchestras and audiences the world over, enticing people to go beyond their customary barriers to accomplish truly extraordinary results. Whether he is addressing top Executives of Fortune 500 companies, or conducting world-class orchestras, Zander never fails to challenge, enthuse and energize.

The Zanders demonstrate that the leader’s power derives from his or her ability to make others powerful. They can teach us how to release the passion and commitment of our players, sothat, both in the workplace and in personal relationships, we suddenly find ourselves surrounded by stars!

Everyone's a Leader - Playing with Passion

The New Leadership Imperative

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Orchestrating Team Excellence

EXPERIENCING THE ART OF POSSIBILITY

Benjamin Zander's presentation takes an audience on a journey that offers a startling new perspective on leadership. Through stories, music and concepts, it causes a radical shift in perception. This is not a speech, it is an experience!

In this new model of leadership, the conductor sees his job as awakening possibility in others. The orchestra is a group of highly trained individuals poised to coalesce into an effective whole. Passion, creativity and the desire to contribute are basic human instincts that need to be released.

World-famous conductor Benjamin Zander uses the metaphor of the orchestra and a lifetime of experience conducting, coaching and teaching musicians to work his magic to overcome barriers to corporate productivity. His presentations source fundamental changes in organizations.

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News


Classical Music Listings for June 3-9 - The New York Times
Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (Monday and Tuesday) After many years of acclaimed work with training orchestras, the conductor Benjamin Zander ...
Benjamin Zander teaches leadership through music - CNN Video
CNN's Paula Newton looks at how future leaders can be shaped through music with Benjamin Zander conductor of the Boston Philharmonic.
Review: A Deep Dive Into Benjamin Zander's 'Shining Eyes' - The ...
The violinist Ayano Ninomiya on Monday night, with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (Benjamin Zander conducting) at Carnegie Hall. Credit Michelle  ...
Carlton's Training Solutions and Ben Zander Announce New ...
Carlton's Training Solutions landed Boston Philharmonic conductor Ben Zander in two new corporate training videos on leadership training. The programs are ...
Conductor orchestrates 'the art of possibility' - San Jose Mercury News
Benjamin Zander came to town to give a talk on "the art of possibility." By the time the audience of nearly 500 walked out of the Los Gatos High School ...
Benjamin Zander returns to conduct Boston's newest youth orchestra
Benjamin Zander, one of Boston's most prominent classical music figures, is back leading a youth orchestra. Zander founded the Boston Philharmonic Youth ...

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