7 7 ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁twenty - one , ▁the ▁young est ▁music ▁student ▁in ▁Cal Ar ts ' ▁history ▁to ▁receive ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree . ▁ ▁Con duct or ▁ ▁Following ▁years ▁as ▁a ▁fre el ance ▁conduct or , ▁composer ▁and ▁pian ist , ▁Stern ▁served ▁as ▁Ass istant ▁Con duct or ▁( 1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 6 ) ▁and ▁Associ ate ▁Con duct or ▁( 1 9 9 6 – 2 0 0 1 ) ▁of ▁the ▁Seattle ▁Sym phony , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Music ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁North west ▁Chamber ▁Orchestra ▁( 1 9 9 3 – 2 0 0 0 ). ▁Stern ▁has ▁guest - con duct ed ▁throughout ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁including ▁engag ements ▁with ▁the ▁Mil w au kee ▁Sym phony , ▁the ▁Ro chester ▁Phil harm onic , ▁the ▁B ould er ▁Phil harm onic , ▁Sym ph onic ▁Wind ▁Ens emble ▁at ▁Michigan ▁State ▁University , ▁the ▁Chamber ▁Music ▁Society ▁of ▁Lincoln ▁Center , ▁Chamber ▁Music ▁North west ▁in ▁Port land , ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Chamber ▁Sym phony , ▁Phil harm onia ▁North west ▁and ▁the ▁Sac r amento ▁Sym phony . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Stern ▁was ▁the ▁music ▁director ▁and ▁conduct or ▁of ▁the ▁Belle vue ▁Youth ▁Sym phony ▁Orchestra . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Stern ▁was ▁the ▁music ▁director ▁and ▁conduct or ▁of ▁the ▁Port