Michael Adelson is an American orchestral conductor. As of 2011 he is conductor of the Auros Group for New Music and a cover conductor for the New York Philharmonic.
Adelson has studied conducting with Jorma Panula and Michael Tilson Thomas. He received his Bachelor of music from Mannes College The New School for Music. He also has studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the New England Conservatory. Adelson's first major conducting appearance was in 1992, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His other engagements include The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. As of 2011, Adelson also conducts the Mannes Preparatory Division Philharmonic Orchestra.
Adelson leads workshops for music educators in conducting and orchestral technique as part of the New York Philharmonic Department of Education. He has conducted Scandinavian productions of Turandot, La bohème, Der Schauspieldirektor, as well as world premiere of Qu Xiao-Song’s Oedipus. Adelson is also head of the Auros Group for New Music and has assisted conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen. His recordings have been heard on Albany Records, Swedish Radio, and Finnish Radio. He has been a guest conductor and lecturer at Connecticut College, Helsinki University, Harvard University, Brandeis University, Accademia di Musica in Sassini, Italy, Rencontres Musicales Europeenes in France, and Orkester Norden in Finland.