William Long - About

Praised by Opera News for his “masterful command of challenging, multi-stylistic works,” conductor William Long has emerged as a dynamic and versatile presence on the international stage. He collaborates regularly with some of the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies, bringing a deep commitment to both classic and contemporary repertoire.

Long recently contributed to the GRAMMY Award–winning Metropolitan Opera recording of Terence Blanchard’s Champion and was honored with Career Assistance Grants from the Solti Foundation in both 2023 and 2025.

Recent seasons have included his debut with the London Symphony Orchestra at The Barbican, conducting Carmen at Washington National Opera, and making his Carnegie Hall debut with The Met Orchestra Chamber Ensemble. He also led San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Open House Concert and conducted the world premiere of Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

In the 2025–26 season, Long makes his debut at Houston Grand Opera conducting Hänsel und Gretel, and returns to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Carmen and Washington National Opera for The Crucible. He will also return to the Merola Opera Program in 2026, following his acclaimed debut in 2025, and continues his work with the San Francisco Symphony on several cover assignments.

Since 2020, Long has maintained a strong relationship with the London Symphony Orchestra, where he has conducted and assisted on a range of programs, working closely with Sir Simon Rattle and Gianandrea Noseda. He also serves as Guest Conductor and Teaching Artist at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where he recently led a new production of Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges.

At the Metropolitan Opera, Long has covered major new productions including Golijov’s Ainadamar and both of Blanchard’s operas, Fire Shut Up In My Bones and Champion. His work at Washington National Opera has included cover conductor roles for La bohème, Carmen, Eugene Onegin, Candide, and the world premieres of Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up and Blanchard’s Champion.

A California native, Long has been deeply involved with San Francisco Opera, where he has served as Assistant Conductor for productions of Lohengrin, Arabella, Hänsel und Gretel, Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, and the world premiere of John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra. He has also worked with Los Angeles Opera as cover conductor for Gordon Getty’s Usher House and The Canterville Ghost.

In addition to his performing career, Long is a passionate educator. He has conducted the orchestra of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for several seasons and regularly coaches singers and pianists in the young artist programs of San Francisco Opera and Washington National Opera. He has been on the faculty of the Music Academy of the West since 2019.

Long holds a B.A. in Piano Performance and an M.A. in Conducting from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied with Maria Ezerova and Nicole Paiement. He also trained with Harold Farberman at the Conductor’s Institute at Bard College and Vance George at Westminster Choir College.