List of female classical conductors

The following is a sortable list of female classical conductors. Classical conductors work with orchestras, opera companies, ballet companies and choral groups. Many of the "disparities of treatment between men and women choral conductors [...] date back to the days prior to work-place initiatives against sexual harassment."^[1] Women conductors have had to work hard for "acceptance in roles of authority" in the world of classical music.^[2] Conducting orchestras has been called a glass ceiling by the BBC.^[3]

Name	Image	Country	Orchestras	Born	Died	Notes
Alsop, MarinMarin Alsop		United States	Colorado Symphony Orchestra Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo	1956	--	First female conductor of the Last Night of the Proms in 2013[4]
Andrée, ElfridaElfrida Andrée		Sweden		1841	1929	[5]
Belinfante, FriedaFrieda Belinfante		Netherlands	Orange County Philharmonic	1904	1995	[6]
Badstue, MariaMaria Badstue		Denmark	Gothenburg Symphony, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra	1982	--	[7]
Ben-Dor, GiseleGisele Ben-Dor		Israel	Houston Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic	1955	--	[8]
Bouchard, LindaLinda Bouchard		Canada		1957	--	[9]
Boulanger, NadiaNadia Boulanger		France	London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony, New York Philharmonic	1887	1979	First woman to conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra.[10]
Brico, Antonia LouisaAntonia Louisa Brico		Netherlands	New York Philharmonic, Denver Community Symphony	1902	1989	First woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic.[11]
Elim Chan		Hong Kong	Mariinsky Theater Orchestra	1987	--
Chang, Han-naHan-na Chang		South Korea	Philharmonia Orchestra	1982	--	[12]
Chen, Mei-AnnMei-Ann Chen		United States	Chicago Sinfonietta, Memphis Symphony Orchestra	1973	--	[13]
Coleridge-Taylor, AvrilAvril Coleridge-Taylor		United Kingdom	Royal Albert Hall, Royal Marines	1903	1998	First female conductor of the H.M.S Royal Marines. [14]
de la Parra, AlondraAlondra de la Parra		Mexico	Queensland Symphony Orchestra	1980	--	First female conductor at the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.[15]
Derkēvica, AusmaAusma Derkēvica		Latvia		1929	2011	[16]
Digby, SuziSuzi Digby		United Kingdom	Royal Albert Hall, St John's, Smith Square, St James's Church, Piccadilly	1958	--	[17]
Dudarova, VeronikaVeronika Dudarova		Russia	Junior conductor of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra Principal conductor of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra Symphony Orchestra of Russia	1916	2009	First 20th century female symphony orchestra conductor.
Edwards, SianSian Edwards		United Kingdom	Ensemble Modern	1959	--	[18]
Equilbey, LaurenceLaurence Equilbey		France	Accentus	1962	--	[19]
Falletta, JoAnnJoAnn Falletta		United States	Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Ulster Orchestra	1954	--	[20]
Fraillon, NicoletteNicolette Fraillon		Australia	The Australian Ballet	1960	--	The world's only woman music director of a ballet company.[21]
Gaigg, MichiMichi Gaigg		Austria	L'arpa festante, L'Orfeo	1957	--	[22]
Gipps, RuthRuth Gipps		United Kingdom		1921	1999	[23]
Glover, JaneJane Glover		United Kingdom	Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Berlin Staatsoper, Royal Danish Opera, Opéra National du Rhin, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, and Teatro La Fenice	1949	--	Third woman to conduct the Metropolitan Opera.[24]
Gonzaga, ChiquinhaChiquinha Gonzaga		Brazil		1847	1935	First female conductor in Brazil.[25]
Gorden, KarenKaren Gorden		United States	Special Jury Prize, 50th Geneva International Conducting Competition, Staatsoper und Staatskapelle Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Bayreuth Festival, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts	1967		Founded FORCULTURE in 2014[26]
Gražinytė-Tyla, MirgaMirga Gražinytė-Tyla		Lithuania	Salzburger Landestheater	1986	--	[27]
Guinand, MariaMaria Guinand		Venezuela		1953	--	[28]
Haïm, EmmanuelleEmmanuelle Haïm		France	Glyndebourne Touring Opera, The Proms, Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago	1962	--	First woman to conduct Lyric Opera of Chicago. [29]
Hannigan, BarbaraBarbara Hannigan		Canada	Toronto Symphony Orchestra Münchner Philharmoniker Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Helsinki Philharmoniker WDR Symphony Orchestra Mahler Chamber Orchestra Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Gulbenkian Symphony Orchestra Britten Sinfonia London Sinfonietta Avanti Chamber Orchestra	1971	--	Soprano Barbara Hannigan sings and conducts simultaneously[30]
Hicks, SarahSarah Hicks		United States	Minnesota Orchestra			[31]
Hillis, MargaretMargaret Hillis		United States	Chicago Symphony Chorus	1921	1998	Founder and director of Chicago Symphony Chorus. [32]
Holst, ImogenImogen Holst		United Kingdom		1907	1984	[33]
Hsu, ApoApo Hsu		Taiwan / United States				[34]
Jing, HuanHuan Jing		China				[35]
Ioannides, SarahSarah Ioannides			El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra	1972	--	[36]
Jones, JuliaJulia Jones		United Kingdom	Oper Köln, Staatstheater Darmstadt	1961	--	[37]
Kamensek, KarenKaren Kamensek		United States	Slovenian National Theatre	1970	--	[38]
Kano, TheaThea Kano		United States	New York City Master Chorale	1965	--	[39]
Kaprálová, VítězslavaVítězslava Kaprálová		Czech Republic	Czech Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra	1915	1940	[40]
León, Tania Tania León		Cuba/United States		1943	--	[41]
Nishimoto, TomomiTomomi Nishimoto		Japan	Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra	1970	--	[42]
Novokmet, JasminaJasmina Novokmet		Serbia		1969	--	[43]
Shara, InmaInma Shara		Spain	London Philharmonic Orchestra Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Czech National Symphony Orchestra Russian National Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Rome Symphony Orchestra National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra Latvian National Symphony Orchestra European Union Youth Orchestra	1972	--	First female conductor who took the podium at the Vatican in 2008.[44]
Nathalie Stutzmann		France	Orfeo 55 Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra National Symphony Orchestra Washington Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra	1965		First female to conduct an opera at the head of Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Washburn, NanNan Washburn		United States	Michigan Philharmonic			Winner of the American Prize in Conducting 2013[45]
Worby, RachaelRachael Worby		United States	Symphony Orchestra in Wheeling, Pasadena POPS	1950	--	[46]
Young, SimoneSimone Young		Australia	Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Opera Australia Philharmoniker Hamburg	1961	--	First female conductor of the Vienna State Opera in 1993.[47]
Xiaoying, ZhengZheng Xiaoying		China	China National Opera House, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Ai Yue Nu Philharmonic Orchestra	1929	--	First female conductor in China.[48]

References

1. Conlon, Joan Catoni (2009). "Introduction". In Conlon, Joan C. Wisdom, Wit, and Will: Women Choral Conductors on Their Art. Chicago: GIA Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781579997601.
2. Ammer, Christine (1998). "Classical Music". In Mankiller, Wilma; Mink, Gwendolyn; Navarro, Marysa; Smith, Barbara; Steinem, Gloria. The Reader's Compainion to U.S. Women's History. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 110. ISBN 0395671736.
3. Burton-Hill, Clemency (21 October 2014). "Why Aren't There More Women Conductors?". BBC. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
4. Michael, Church (8 September 2013). "First female conductor, Marin Alsop, rocks Last Prom". The Independent. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
5. Lewis, Dave. "Elfrida Andrée". Allmusic.com.
6. Pasles, Chris (19 February 1987). "Frieda Belinfante Honored : Cultural Pioneer Still A Voice For Excellence". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
7. "Maria Bastue, Conductor". Nordic Artists Management. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
8. Malcolm Hayes, Classic CD Magazine, 1999
9. Francis, Kimberly (6 May 2008). "Linda Bouchard". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
10. Potter, Caroline. "Boulanger, Nadia". Grove Music Online (Oxford Music Online). Retrieved 16 September 2010.
11. "Antonia Brico". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
12. English Ahram (December 12, 2012). "Qatar Philharmonic announces new music director". English Ahram online.
13. von Rhein, John (September 20, 2011). "Sinfonietta's new maestra makes diversity her mantra". Chicago Tribune. ISSN 1085-6706. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
14. Sadie, Julie Anne and Rhian Samuel. Eds. The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Macmillan: New York, 1995.
15. Matthew Westwood (2015-10-24). "QSO's Alondra de la Parra: first woman to head a state orchestra". The Australian. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
16. "Mūžībā aizgājusi diriģente Ausma Derkēvica". Delfi. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
17. "Interview with Suzi Digby" (PDF). Assoc. of British Choral Conductors. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
18. Duchen, Jessica and Richard Wigmore. "Edwards, Sian", Grove Music Online, Oxford Music Online, accessed 2 June 2011 (subscription required)
19. Andrew Clements (2008-05-02). "Dvořák: Stabat Mater, Engerer/ Accentus/ Equilbey". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
20. Alf McCreary (2011-05-09). "JoAnn Falletta becomes Ulster Orchestra's first female conductor". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
21. Jeremy Story Carter, " Australian Ballet music director calls out sexism in classical music world", ABC Radio National, 13 June 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016
22. Performing arts yearbook for Europe: PAYE. Alain Charles Arts Publishing - 2006 "... leitung: Michi Gaigg Type: instrumental and vocal, Main Repertoire: baroque to classical, Repertoire: oratorio, early classical opera, cantatas, French Baroque, contemporary commissioned works, Perfs. 25 to 50, Size: 15 or more, ..."
23. Foreman, Lewis (2 March 1999). "Obituary: Ruth Gipps". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
24. Anthony Tommasini,"A Rollicking Treat Infused With Grace and Gravitas," New York Times, 17 December 2013 |URL=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/arts/music/jane-glover-conducts-the-magic-flute-at-the-met.html?_r=0
25. "Chiquinha Gonzaga". Chiquinha Gonzaga (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2016.
26. WDPR-FM. "Interview with Conductor Karen Gorden", WDPR Public Radio, date of original interview to be confirmed. Retrieved on 30 July 2015.
27. Anna Schweingel (2012-07-12). "'Brauche Ewigkeiten von Einsamkeit'". Mannheimer Morgen. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
28. "Maria Guinand". LA Philharmonic. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
29. John von Rhein (2007-10-28). "Trailblazer Haim sets conducting, family life to two-part harmony". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
30. James R. Oestreich (2014-08-19). "Barbara Hannigan Sings and Conducts at the Lucerne Festival". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
31. Curtis Institute of Music website, "Sarah Hicks: Staff Conductor," |URL=http://www.curtis.edu/faculty/faculty-bios-by-name/sarah-hicks.html
32. Kozinn, Allan (6 February 1998). "Margaret Hillis, 76, Conductor; Led Chicago Symphony Chorus". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
33. Strode, Rosamund. "Holst, Imogen Clare". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 17 February 2014. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
34. "Performance Today, 2007-08-29". National Public Radio (USA). Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
35. "音乐总监：景 焕 (A webpage from the official website of GSYO)". Retrieved 2015-09-20.
36. "Spartanburg Philharmonic Music Director Renews Contract" (Press release). Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Chapman Cultural Center). 4 June 2009. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
37. Jessica Duchen (2010-01-22). "A glass ceiling for women in the orchestra pit". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
38. Neumann, Carolin (2 February 2011). "Karen Kamensek, Dirigentin: "Eine Frauenquote in der Musik? Unmöglich!"". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 16 December 2015. (German)
39. http://nycmasterchorale.org/artistic_director
40. The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers, pp.245-46.
41. Borroff, Edith (2003). Music Melting Round: A History of Music in the United States. Scarecrow Press. p. 289. ISBN 9781461716808.
42. "100 Most Respected Japanese (世界が尊敬する日本人100人)" Newsweek Japan, 2006-10-18
43. List of associate professors at the University of Pristina, Retrieved on 6 June 2010.
44. "In Conversation with Inma Shara". Pictet Perspectives. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
45. http://www.detroitperforms.org/2013/09/nan-washburn-wins-the-american-prize-in-conducting
46. http://www.wvgazette.com/Life/201012301154
47. John Carmody (16 December 2005). "Sensitive autocrat in a season of content". The Australian. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
48. Brown, Emily Freeman (2015). A Dictionary for the Modern Conductor. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 379–380. ISBN 9780810884014.

Links to online resources

• Women Conductors - a database by Kapralova Society