Conductor Marin Alsop made history with her appointment as the Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony, becoming the first woman to head a major American orchestra. Called a “born communicator and effective proselytizer for music” by The New York Times and a “lively entertainer as well as a powerhouse musician” by The San Francisco Chronicle, Alsop has spent a lifetime dedicated to music.
She began playing piano at 2, violin at 5, entered Julliard pre-college at 7, decided to become a conductor at 9, and at 16 entered Yale. In 1991 she made her professional conducting debuts at the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic where she continues as a regular guest conductor, along with the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony.
Winner of Gramophone’s “Artist of the Year” award, Alsop was the first conductor to be named a MacArthur Fellow. In 2006 she was the only classical musician invited to attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
A protégée of Leonard Bernstein, in 2009 Alsop became the artistic director of London’s Southbank Centre’s season-long The Bernstein Project. Encompassing more than 30 events the series draws from Bernstein’s work as a musician, humanitarian, and educator.
Alsop has been profiled in TIME and named one of “America’s Most Powerful Women” by Newsweek. She can be heard regularly as a commentator on NPR’s Weekend Edition program, “Marin on Music,” BBC’s Radio 3 and XM Satellite Radio.
In Baltimore Alsop has been credited with reinvigorating the orchestra and leading a major community outreach effort that has generated tremendous excitement. In June of 2008 along with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra she unveiled a major education initiative Orchkids. The program provides music education, instruments and mentorship to Baltimore's youth. Currently Alsop, is at work on a book about leadership.
|
Music Director, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra