Praised for being "an entrepreneur bringing innovation to classical music" (Forbes), Chad Goodman serves as Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony and as an Assistant Conductor to the San Francisco Symphony, where he has worked with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Manfred Honeck, Daniel Harding and Simone Young among others. As Founder and Artistic Director of the contemporary music group Elevate Ensemble, Goodman commissioned fifteen works from American composers and collaborated with photographers, poets and chefs to bring vibrant performances to unique venues like yoga studios and art warehouses. Goodman has served as Music Director of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, rehearsal conductor for the San Francisco Ballet and Conducting Fellow for the Atlantic Music Festival. Outside of performing, he teaches young musicians the business and entrepreneurial skills needed to navigate the music world in his workshop “You Just Earned a Music Degree. Now What?” Goodman’s mentors include Michael Tilson Thomas and Alasdair Neale.