A Philadelphia native, Portnoy is considered one of the country's most dynamic and inspiring symphony orchestra conductors. He is the founder of the American Arts Trio, which has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and South America, and founder and director of the Conductors Institute of South Carolina.

The nationally known institute brings conducting students and professionals from around the world each year to USC for three weeks of intensive training with some of America's most noted teachers and composers. Portnoy holds the Ira McKissick Koger Endowed Chair for the Fine Arts at USC and has been a guest conductor with major national and international orchestras. He also has served as music director and conductor of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra for the past eleven years.

He is a graduate of New York's Juilliard School and earned his MA degree from the Catholic University of America and a DMA from Peabody Conservatory.

The Ditson Conductor's Award, the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, was established in 1945 by the Alice Ditson Fund at Columbia University. Since the fund was created, it has assisted numerous activities by younger and lesser-known composers, including the performance of new works and recordings. Past recipients include Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, and JoAnn Falletta.

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