The exquisite image of a 17-year-old pro conductor pretty much demands a cocky posture; if you can't vote, or have a beer, but you can direct venerable musical professionals, you'd better come to the podium with a certain air of self-assurance. OK, while "cocky" and "boy" are certainly unwarranted monikers for conductor Alexander Prior, the London teen does possess that intangible swagger... a confidence, feigned or not, that will serve him well for his next, States-side, gig.

The Seattle Symphony recently appointed Alex Prior to Assistant to Guest Conductors; while he would only conduct a concert should Kurt Masur or another conductor cancel, this appointment does make the 17-year-old Prior a professional conductor - no, uh, small accomplishment. Prior also has an open invitation to fellow conduct under James Levine at Tanglewood in Massachusetts.

Now I could go on and on about Prior's accomplishments (to name just two: he wrote and regularly conducts performances of his original ballet, Mowgli, based on The Jungle Book; he rose to a certain fame last year when the UK documentary The World's Greatest Musical Prodigies featured him), but I would rather point out he is very normal, humble - and kind of nerdy - in interviews, which I like; although that swaggering conducting persona fits much more neatly with Prior's incredible resume.

I recommend a video just posted to YouTube last week of Prior conducting Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From The New World" at Glazunov Concert Hall in St. Petersburg; his rapturous expressions and movements are fascinating to watch.

Prior is certainly garnering attention as of late - mainly journalistic discussions of experience versus natural talent and showmanship - but I venture he's on track for endured stardom.