WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Conductor Luke Poeppel
August 10, 2026 | New York City
New York, NY—The New Conductors Orchestra was founded with a mission to provide emerging conductors with meaningful professional experience to help launch and/or advance their careers. This is the first in a series of profiles titled "Where Are They Now?" to highlight the career trajectories of conductors who have previously worked with NCO. These features will be shared via our newsletter and posted on our blog to spotlight these conductors’ recent achievements and illustrate the impact of our program.
Luke Poeppel’s Experience with New Conductors Orchestra
Luke Poeppel is an American-German conductor and pianist based in Rochester, NY, who received his Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. He made his debut with the New Conductors Orchestra in the Orchestral Gems concert series on October 19 and 20, 2024, leading the ensemble in Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in Eb.
Conductor Luke Poeppel
Post-NCO Milestones
Poeppel has just completed his work as the assistant conductor of the Kansas City Symphony under their new Music Director, Matthias Pintscher. He has recently started a position as the incoming Ensemble Conductor for the Ryan Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Poeppel spent the last two summers as an assistant conductor at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival, where he worked on productions including Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Fellow Travelers, and Sunday in the Park with George. In 2025 he was the winner of a Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award.
“Working with NCO was a highlight of my time in New York. When Mark Powell proposed the idea of conducting the Hindemith Symphony in E-flat, I was blown away –– rarely do young conductors get the opportunity to conduct repertoire like that, so it was a real privilege. The environment of the NCO is so encouraging and positive, and it gave me the opportunity to try out a number of different things in my conducting. NCO is a gem!” – Luke Poeppel.
Connect with Luke Poeppel
Website: www.lukepoeppel.com
Contact: www.lukepoeppel.com/contact
Instagram: lukepoeppel
Subscribe to our mailing list and visit our blog to see our other conductor profiles in this series.
About New Conductors Orchestra
Founded in 2019, the New Conductors Orchestra (NCO) is a unique community ensemble that champions the next generation of musical leaders. With no set conductor, NCO engages emerging talent from the conducting world, offering them the opportunity to lead dynamic, high-level performances. Through these concerts, NCO bridges the gap between formal conducting education and the professional world, while also featuring works by both classical and living composers. Under the guidance of Lead Conductor Mark Powell, NCO is determined to nurture a collaborative environment where conductors and musicians alike can shape their musical journey.
For Media Inquiries
Publicity and Communications/New Conductors Orchestra
Maryam Ali | business.maryamali@gmail.com
