Robert Spano is one of the leading conductors of his generation. He has led most of the major American orchestras and has won several Grammy Awards with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which he led as music director from 2001 until 2021. Spano conducts a broad range of repertoire that includes contemporary works (Golijov and Higdon have prominently figured in his concerts) and operatic performances (his Wagner Ring cycle at the Seattle Opera in 2005 drew much critical acclaim). He has also appeared frequently on television, from arts presentations on PBS to the more mass-appeal programs such as Late Show with David Letterman. In 2020, Spano led the Atlanta Symphony on an album of music by Michael Gandolfi, Richard Prior, and James Oliverio. The following year, he was named music director-designate of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, with his appointment beginning in 2022.