Recently recognized as one of Charleston’s “40 under 40” by the Charleston Regional Business Journal, conductor Wojciech Milewski is a winner of the 2023 American Prize in Conducting and the 2019 HSO Harold Farberman Prize, and was a finalist in the 2019 Los Angeles Conducting Competition. As a conductor, he is passionate about community development, fostering lively and interactive concert experiences, and collaborating with audiences and musicians. The 2025- 2026 season marks his conducting debut with the Long Bay Symphony, following up on recent performances with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and continued performances with Charleston Opera Theater, College of Charleston Opera, and Summerville Orchestra. He has collaborated with global artists such as Michael Chioldi, Jasmine Habersham, Ben Baker, Jonathan Mamora, Yuriy Bekker, Tuffus Zimbabwe, Cassie Pilgrim, Phillip Bush, and more.
In his tenth season as Music Director of the Summerville Orchestra, the organization has greatly expanded in all facets. The S.O.’s growth – both operationally and artistically – was recently recognized on a national scale. The orchestra was the winner of the 2023 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and 2 nd place winner of the Vytautas Marijosius award for innovative programming efforts, which include its unique Encore Series chamber series at Coastal Coffee Roasters. Since 2016, the S.O. has also started three separate community outreach series and a youth orchestra program, commissioned new works by composers Rene Orth, Kenyon Wilson, and Chris Pilsner, and collaborated with artists and organizations from around the world. A recent highlight was securing an honorary patronage from the Polish embassy for their May 2024 performance of Mieczysław Karłowicz’s Eternal Songs, showing a commitment to underperformed composers from around the world. 

At home in the opera pit, Wojciech is in his sixth season as Music Director of Charleston Opera Theater (COT). He will be on the podium for COT’s 2025-2026 performances of Carmen and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Wojciech recently conducted their Serenata Romantica gala concert, and sold-out performances of La Bohème in November 2024. Prior to Bohème, Wojciech appeared onstage in the role of Manny the accompanist in COT’s May 2024 performances of Terrence McNally’s Masterclass. He has music directed all of COT’s Piccolo Spoleto offerings, including Bach’s Coffee Cantata & Menotti’s The Telephone, Joe Illick’s UnShakeable, and more. Prior to his time in Charleston, Wojciech served as Music Director for the world premiere of Joe Illick’s UnShakeable with Santa Fe Opera in 2016, as Assistant Conductor of the Opera NEO festival in San Diego, and Associate Conductor at El Paso Opera. 

Off the podium, he maintains an active performing career as a pianist and clarinetist, regularly appearing on the Summerville Orchestra’s Encore Series, as the main pianist for Charleston Opera Theater, and performing locally throughout the Charleston area. Previous performing experience includes the second clarinet position with the Roswell Symphony (NM), and solo/featured appearances with Opera Southwest, the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, San Juan Symphony, and as guest pianist in the National Broadway Tours of “Wicked” and “Book of Mormon.” He is currently a staff accompanist at the College of Charleston, where he serves as the vocal coach and diction coach within the Opera Department.

A native of Poland, Wojciech grew up in New York City. He graduated with distinction with his Master’s of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of New Mexico, and summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a double Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Music. Prior to a career in music, he interned at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. He now lives in Summerville, S.C., and enjoys trying cortados at new coffee shops, playing soccer, cycling, being outdoors, cooking, reading, and spending time with his partner Caitlin.