Julian Dürr is a composer, pianist, and conductor whose artistry is underpinned by a collaborative spirit, disciplined work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to building community through music. A native of Redding, California, he began piano lessons early on with Steinway Artist Duane Hampton and began performing in competitions and recitals across the state. His formative years were shaped by the artistic and educational opportunities of the North State; at Shasta College, Julian studied conducting with Dr. Jeff Specht, piano/choral studies with Dr. Elizabeth Waterbury, and began composing under the mentorship of Jeffrey Hayman. Julian was also both a TRIO Upward Bound student and a McConnell Scholar.
Julian earned a Master of Music in Conducting from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he studied under Dr. Bruce Hangen (Boston Pops, Vista Philharmonic), with additional studies in choral conducting with Dr. Steve Spinelli and jazz piano with Pierre Hurel. During his graduate studies, he served as a Boston Conservatory Choral Scholar and as a conducting-area teaching assistant supporting orchestral activities under Maestro Hangen. He previously earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition also from the Boston Conservatory, where he studied composition with Dr. Stephen Halloran and classical piano with Dr. Jonathan Bass.
In Boston, Julian performs actively with Boston Conservatory’s orchestras and wind ensembles, and as a pianist/keyboardist with the Boston Philharmonic and Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Harvard New Music Ensemble and a wide variety of other Boston-based ensembles, spanning jazz, contemporary, and other genres. As a singer, he has performed with the Boston Lyric Opera Chorus, Back Bay Chorale, the Boston Conservatory Graduate Choirs, and will soon participate in an upcoming collaborative workshop with the Grammy-winning ensemble The Crossing. He also enjoys playing bass guitar and trumpet in more casual ensemble settings in his free time.
As a composer, his music spans solo, chamber, orchestral, and choral settings, characterized by passionate lyricism, extended harmonies, and influences drawn from both late-Romantic repertoire and jazz traditions. His works are available on major streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. He has also composed major commissions, featured in Juilliard Dance productions, Boston Conservatory’s WinterWorks Dance shows, and most recently a commission for the Community Foundation of the North State.
Julian also maintains a broad range of conducting engagements. He has served as Assistant Music Director and Conductor for Shasta College productions including The Sound of Music (2023), Guys and Dolls (2025), and The Nutcracker (upcoming, 2025), where he conducted the Shasta Symphony Orchestra, prepared the chorus, and served as both rehearsal and orchestral pianist. He has directed community ensembles including the Redding Patriotic Community Band, the Redding Performing Arts Center Orchestra and Choir (The Pirates of Penzance, 2025), the Red Bluff Community Band, and the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra. In 2026, Julian will conduct the Boston Conservatory Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall, and was most recently invited as a guest conductor with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra as part of Benjamin Zander’s televised Interpretation of Music: Lessons for Life series.
Beyond the concert stage, Julian is dedicated to education and community engagement. Since 2019, he has taught piano, strings, brass, music theory, and composition at Redding Music School. He also tutors conservatory students in music theory and ear training as a Core Studies Academic Coach at the Boston Conservatory. His past service also includes membership on the board of the Redding Performing Arts Society, reflecting his long-standing commitment to fostering the growth of music and the arts in his hometown.
In sharing his work with others, teaching, and directing ensembles, he strives to create solidarity and companionship—especially for those who may feel isolated or alone in their struggles. Julian aspires to provide validation, support, and a sense of refuge through music and the arts.