American born and trained, Maestro Troy Webdell is described by the Chicago Tribune as “the next Leonard Bernstein!” His eloquent conducting, innovative programming, and commitment to music education successfully and consistently produces transformative experiences through the universal language of music. Valpo-Life Magazine declared: "His animated and passionate pledge to the musical experience for all is dynamic!” 

Maestro Webdell has traveled throughout the world to collaborate with living composers and conduct orchestral concerts, including appearances in 48 major cities throughout China and Inner Mongolia where his interpretations of the Chinese classical music repertoire have been received with critical acclaim. Chinese First-Class composer Li Wenping affirmed: “Your treatment of my music is very unique and shows special charm. I hope you perform more of my works!” In 2015, Webdell was awarded the Global Harmony Through Music award from the Confucius Institute (Beijing) for his work and dedication to create cultural understanding and acceptance through music. In 2018, Webdell was invited to conduct the inaugural concert at the grand opening of the Ulanhot Grand Theatre in Ulanhot, Inner Mongolia. 

Webdell has conducted sold out concerts at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Beijing Concert Hall, Ningbo Opera House, Hangzhou Grand Theater, and many other venues. In addition to embracing the standard classical repertoire, he has conducted the premieres of over 200 works and/or collaborated with contemporary composers including, Anton Garcia Abril, Philip Glass, Mikis Theodorakis, Li Wenping, Roxanna Panufnik, Fazil Say, Halim El Dabh, Michael Schelle, Miho Sasaki, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and Mariana Villanueva, among others. American composer Michael Schelle explains:  “Maestro Webdell is in excellent form - complete and total command - he knows every measure of the score with authority and nuance!” 

As a seasoned opera, musical theater, and ballet conductor, Maestro Webdell has conducted numerous large-scale productions and received outstanding orchestral direction awards for staged and concert productions of Stephen Sondheim’s  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2001 & 2004), Jason Robert Brown’s PARADE (2005), Mitch Leigh’s Man of La Mancha (2006), Rhapsody in Swing (2012), and the world premiere run of Max Lee’s modern interpretation of the Chinese classic opera Romance of the Western Chamber (2013) which was completely sung and spoken in Mandarin Chinese.
 

Maestro Webdell currently conducts the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and FWP Youth Orchestras in Fort Wayne, Indiana USA. His artistic vision has completely reimagined and revitalized the concert experience for the Philharmonic’s Stories in Music Family Series concerts. As a result, audience attendance at these Philharmonic concerts increased significantly, as well as an outpouring of support to make these concerts free for everyone to attend. As conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Youth Orchestras, Webdell has transformed this educational program into the premiere orchestral experience for young musicians in Northern Indiana. Under his leadership, the Youth Orchestras have performed five different concerts on PBS television as well as a featured concert on the Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

Webdell continues to bend musical boundaries and reach new heights in classical music with a dedication to composers, cultures, and the classical concert experience. Legendary Egyptian composer Halim El Dabh exclaimed: “You are such a joy of inspiration and excitement!” Most recently, Webdell combined artificial intelligence (AI) with symphony orchestra to create an interactive audio/visual world premiere with music by American composer Philip Glass. He has also collaborated extensively with the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne on projects such as Violins of Hope, Violins & Hope, and several other concerts designed to educate audiences about the Holocaust through music performance. During the 2025/2026 season, Maestro Webdell commemorates the 100th birthday of revered Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis by partnering with the Greek Cultural Ministry in Athens, Greece and several orchestras around the world to conduct concerts of his music, including performances in China, South America, and the USA.