Artists

• Marin Alsop

  Conductor

  A conductor of vision and distinction, Marin Alsop represents a powerful and inspiring voice. Convinced that music has the power to change lives, she is internationally recognized for her innovative approach to programming and audience development, her deep commitment to education, and her advocacy for music’s importance in the world.

  Alsop currently serves as chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; the first music director of the University of Maryland’s National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F); the first chief conductor and curator of Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, where she curates and conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s summer residencies; and conductor of honor of Brazil’s São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP). Later this year she will assume the title of music director laureate and OrchKids Founder of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, following an outstanding 14-year tenure as music director. In addition to enjoying longstanding relationships with the London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras, she regularly guest conducts major international ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre de Paris, and The Cleveland, La Scala, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia, and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw orchestras. An ardent champion of new composition, she was music director of California’s Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music for 25 years. Last year — in collaboration with YouTube, Google Arts & Culture, and a host of the world’s leading arts organizations — she spearheaded the #GlobalOdeToJoy, a crowd-sourced video project celebrating Beethoven’s 250th anniversary and amplifying his Ninth Symphony’s call for tolerance, unity and joy.

  The first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, Marin Alsop has also been honored with the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award and numerous honorary doctorates. Recognized with multiple Gramophone Awards, her extensive discography includes recordings for the Decca, Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, and Sony Classical labels. To promote and nurture the careers of her fellow female conductors, in 2002 she founded the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship, which was recently renamed in her honor as the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship.

   

   

  Learn more about Marin Alsop

• Joseph Alessi

  Trombone

  Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, The Gurnee F. and Marjorie L. Hart Chair, in the spring of 1985. He began musical studies in his native California with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr., as a high school student in San Rafael, California, and was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at the Curtis Institute of Music. Before joining the Philharmonic, Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for one season. He has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, led by Pierre Boulez.

  
  Learn more about Joseph Alessi