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Kent Nagano is one of the most exciting American conductors, with a particular expertise in 20th Century repertory. His parents were Nissei (second-generation Japanese-Americans), who ran a family farm in Morro Park. He was brought up with American and Japanese traditions. For instance, in music he studied viola, clarinet, and koto, in addition to being taught piano by his mother. He attended the University of California at Santa Cruz, graduating with highest honors. He took an advanced degree at San Francisco State University. At the same time he worked with the San Francisco Opera as assistant to conductor Laszlo Varga. From 1977 to 1979 he was Associate Artistic Director of the Opera Company of Boston under Sarah Caldwell, while studying conducting and musicology with Osbourne McConathy. In 1979 he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. There he was Assistant Conductor of the Oakland Symphony, Music Director of the Oakland Ballet Orchestra, and Music Director of the Berkeley Prom...