Lee Mills, Artistic Director | From Montana to Maestro: Orchestras, EDM, and Palm Springs Magic

This episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence spotlights a dynamic leader shaping the desert’s classical scene. As artistic director for Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, our guest Lee Mills explains how a tiny team brings the world’s great orchestras to the McCallum Theatre within a narrow January to April window—often booking seasons as far out as 2028. Expect a blockbuster lineup: Chicago Symphony; a Los Angeles Philharmonic visit during a milestone leadership transition; Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell; a top Mexico City orchestra with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Pacho Flores fresh off a 2023 Latin Grammy; plus San Diego and Dallas Symphonies. We trace Mills’ path from Belgrade, Montana to podiums in Brazil, Seattle, and the Carolinas, and how an MBA sharpened his audience-first programming. He rejects old-school “dictator” conducting in favor of joyful collaboration—and shares a thrilling vision to fuse symphonic power with club production. Pro tip: the season’s nearly sold out—join the waitlist.Takeaways:Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic presents world-class orchestras at McCallum Theatre.Touring windows are tight (Jan–Apr), and dates are juggled years in advance.Upcoming highlights include Chicago Symphony, LA Phil, Academy of St Martin with Joshua Bell, San Diego & Dallas Symphonies, and a Mexico City orchestra with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Pacho Flores.The organization is lean (two going on three staff) and partners closely with McCallum’s crew.Career arc: Montana roots → college conducting epiphany → Brazil, Seattle → Greenville music directorship.Leadership style favors collaboration, fun, and audience engagement—no “tyrant conductor” vibes.Bold vision: bring orchestras into club environments with lights, acrobatics, and symphonic hits.Season is almost sold out; waitlists routinely move 50–100 returned tickets per concert.#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #LeeMills #PSPhil #PalmSpringsFriendsOfPhilharmonic #McCallumTheatre #ChicagoSymphony #LAPhil #GustavoDudamel #JoshuaBell #PachoFlores #CarlosMiguelPrieto #GreenvilleSymphony #ClassicalMusic #CoachellaValley