Levi Hammer
Conductor, Pianist, Musical Thinker
About
Recognized for his collaborative generosity and meticulous musicianship, American conductor Levi Hammer has established a reputation as an extraordinarily versatile conductor of both symphony orchestras and opera. Based in Berlin and both an American and German citizen, he has worked extensively within the European orchestral and operatic landscape while maintaining close artistic connections in the United States. Recent and current engagements include conducting the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Gothenburg Symphony, the Athens State Orchestra and the Albanian National Symphony, as well as Barrie Kosky’s production of The Threepenny Opera at the Berliner Ensemble. A pianist as well as conductor, his recent solo album “Gershwin in Vienna” explores the artistic relationship between George Gershwin and the Second Viennese School.
News
Photo: Marco Borggreve
Equilibrium Artists
Levi joined Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium initiative, collaborating with Barbara and Equilibrium colleagues on projects in Paris, Munich and Stockholm. Read more
Universal Edition
With the support of the Schoenberg family, Universal Edition has published Levi’s chamber orchestra arrangement of Arnold Schoenberg’s lusciously romantic, Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5.
DMA
Levi has completed the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
“I met Levi Hammer when he served as assistant conductor for three operas at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has demonstrated his extensive experience with challenging repertoire, and I’ve relied on his expertise in Wagner and preparing large, complex productions. Levi is an outstanding conductor, a musician of depth and sophistication, and a pleasure to work with.”
Gustavo Dudamel
“Conductor/pianist Levi Hammer has proven a wonderful colleague. He has been an invaluable assistant conductor and generous colleague to me. An intelligent and articulate speaker, he is a thoughtful musician: generous, full of curiosity and boundless discipline for hard work and continued immersion into the scores. He is especially sensitive and helpful to singers, knows and loves the vocal repertoire (lieder and opera), while his orchestral background and knowledge is extensive and impressive.“
Barbara Hannigan
“I have known Levi Hammer as a very worthy young conductor. His natural conducting talent I watched develop and strengthen in the repertoire assigned to him. I feel certain he will enjoy and merit a fine career.”
Lorin Maazel
Upcoming
January 5 - February 14, 2026
Strauss: Salome
Levi Hammer, assistant/cover conductor
Tomáš Netopil, conductor
Sir David McVicar, stage director
With Elena Stikhina, Brandon Jovanovich, Nicholas Brownlee, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Ryan Capozzo
Chicago (USA)
February 4, 2026
Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 1
Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 2
Schoenberg: Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Gershwin: Jazzbo Brown Blues
Levi Hammer, piano
Chicago (USA)
February 9, 2026
Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 1
Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 2
Schoenberg: Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Gershwin: Jazzbo Brown Blues
Levi Hammer, piano
Washington, DC (USA)
February 18, 2026
Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 1
Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 2
Schoenberg: Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Gershwin: Jazzbo Brown Blues
Levi Hammer, piano
New York City (USA)
February 25, 2026
Blutenburg Kammerphilharmonie München
Levi Hammer, pianist
Lancelot Fuhry, conductor
Stravinsky: Concerto in E-flat "Dumbarton Oaks"
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15
Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543
Munich (Germany)
March 22, 2026
Konzerthausorchester Berlin
Levi Hammer, conductor
Abak Safaei-Rad, host
Ein Meer aus Musik (A sea of music)
Telemann: Gigue "Ebbe und Fluth" aus Ouvertüre C-Dur TWV 55:C3 („Hamburger Ebb' und Flut“)
Dukas: "L'apprentie sorcier" (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir: "Oceans"
Smetana: "Die Moldau" (The Moldau)
Berlin (Germany)
March 24, 2026
Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 1
Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 2
Schoenberg: Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Gershwin: Jazzbo Brown Blues
Levi Hammer, piano
(Österreichische Botschaft Berlin)
Berlin (Germany)
May 1 - 24, 2026
Wagner: Die Walküre
Levi Hammer, assistant/cover conductor
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Alberto Arvelo, stage director
Frank Gehry, scenic designer
Cindy Figueroa, costume designer
Cori Ellison, dramaturg
Los Angeles Philharmonic
With Ryan Speedo Green, Christine Goerke, Jessica Faselt, Jamez McCorkle, Soloman Howard, Sarah Saturnino, Alexandria Shiner, Lindsay Ammann, Gabrielle Beteag, Zoie Reams, Taylor Raven, Siphokazi Molteno, Laura Wilde
Los Angeles (USA)
May 26, 2026
Gershwin in Vienna: Gershwin and the Second Viennese School
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 1
Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Webern: Variations for Piano, Op. 27
Gershwin: George Gershwin’s Songbook - Part 2
Schoenberg: Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19
Gershwin: Jazzbo Brown Blues
Levi Hammer, piano
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
San Diego (USA)
May 29-31, 2026
Weill/Brecht: Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
Levi Hammer, conductor
Barrie Kosky, stage director
With Nico Holonics, Gabriel Schneider, Maeve Metelka, Tilo Nest, Constanze Becker, Pauline Knof, Kathrin Wehlisch, Laura Balzer, Bettina Hoppe, Sonja Beißwenger, Amelie Willberg, et al.
(On tour in Taiwan)
June 19-21, 2026
Weill/Brecht: Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
Levi Hammer, conductor
Barrie Kosky, stage director
With Nico Holonics, Gabriel Schneider, Maeve Metelka, Tilo Nest, Constanze Becker, Pauline Knof, Kathrin Wehlisch, Laura Balzer, Bettina Hoppe, Sonja Beißwenger, Amelie Willberg, et al.
July 10-12, 2026
Weill/Brecht: Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
Levi Hammer, conductor
Barrie Kosky, stage director
With Nico Holonics, Gabriel Schneider, Maeve Metelka, Tilo Nest, Constanze Becker, Pauline Knof, Kathrin Wehlisch, Laura Balzer, Bettina Hoppe, Sonja Beißwenger, Amelie Willberg, et al.
July 24 - August 15, 2026
Wagner: Die Walküre
Levi Hammer, conductor
Anja Kühnhold, stage director
Dramatic Voices Program Berlin
Berlin (Germany)
September 25-27, 2026
Weill/Brecht: Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
Levi Hammer, conductor
Barrie Kosky, stage director
With Nico Holonics, Gabriel Schneider, Maeve Metelka, Tilo Nest, Constanze Becker, Pauline Knof, Kathrin Wehlisch, Laura Balzer, Bettina Hoppe, Sonja Beißwenger, Amelie Willberg, et al.
October 11, 2026
Blutenburg Kammerphilharmonie München
Levi Hammer, conductor, pianist
Webern: Symphony, Op. 21
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
(Levi Hammer, piano/Avishay Shalom, conductor)
Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B♭ major, Op. 38
Munich (Germany)
December 1, 2026 - January 28, 2027
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Levi Hammer, assistant/cover conductor
Finnegan Downie Dear, conductor
Louisa Proske, stage director
Orchestre et Choeurs de l’Opéra national de Paris
With Peter Mattei, Davide Luciano, Slávka Zámečníková, Jeanine De Bique, Amitai Pati, Manase Latu, Kwangchul Youn, Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Jacquelyn Stucker, Tara Erraught, Joshua Bloom, Vartan Gabrielian, Morgan-Andrew King, Elena Villalón, Ilanah Lobel-Torres, Patricia Nolz,
Paris (France)
January 30 - February 28, 2027
Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmélites
Levi Hammer, conductor
David Toro, stage director
ASU Symphony Orchestra
Arizona State University
School of Music, Dance and Theater
Tempe, AZ (USA)
Media
Contact
Management team:
Artistic Advisor: Craig Urquhart
The Craig Urquhart Office
e-mail: thecraigurquhartoffice@gmail.com
phone: +49 177 197 1669
Please use this form to contact Levi directly.