List of female classical conductors
Name Country Orchestras Born Died Notes
Marin Alsop United States Colorado Symphony Orchestra Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo 1956 -- * First female conductor to be named music director/principal conductor of the Colorado SO , the Bournemouth SO , the Baltimore SO , and of OSESP * First female conductor of the Last Night of the Proms in 2013
Elfrida Andrée Sweden 1841 1929
Nezhat Amiri Iran Fajr Music Festival , Naghmeh Baran Ensemble , Tehran Symphony Orchestra 1961 -- First and Only Iranian female conductor
Frieda Belinfante Netherlands Orange County Philharmonic 1904 1995
Maria Badstue Denmark Gothenburg Symphony , Odense Symphony Orchestra , Aalborg Symphony Orchestra 1982 --
Gisele Ben-Dor Israel Houston Symphony Louisville Orchestra Israel Philharmonic 1955 --
Linda Bouchard Canada 1957 --
Nadia Boulanger France London Philharmonic Orchestra , BBC Symphony , New York Philharmonic 1887 1979 First woman to conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Kalena Bovell United States Memphis Symphony Orchestra Only African-American and Hispanic conductor in the United States as of 2019
Antonia Louisa Brico Netherlands New York Philharmonic , Denver Community Symphony 1902 1989 First woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic
Sarah Caldwell United States Boston University Opera Workshop Opera Company of Boston 1924 2006 First woman to conduct at the Metropolitan Opera ( 1976 )
Karina Canellakis United States Radio Filharmonisch Orkest 1981 -- First female conductor to be named chief conductor of any Dutch orchestra
Dr. Lisette Canton Canada the Ottawa Bach Choir Canadian Choral Conductor . Conductor of the first Canadian Choir to be invited to sing at the Thomaskirche . Juno award nominated in 2020
Joana Carneiro Portugal Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa , Gulbenkian Orchestra , Berkeley Symphony , Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa 1976 --
Elim Chan Hong Kong NorrlandsOperan Royal Scottish National Orchestra Antwerp Symphony Orchestra 1986 -- * First female principal guest conductor of the RSNO * First woman conductor and youngest-ever conductor named chief conductor of the Antwerp Symphony
Han-na Chang South Korea Philharmonia Orchestra 1982 --
Mei-Ann Chen United States Chicago Sinfonietta , Memphis Symphony Orchestra 1973 --
Avril Coleridge-Taylor United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall , Royal Marines 1903 1998 First female conductor of the H.M.S Royal Marines
Catherine Comet France Grand Rapids Symphony , American Symphony Orchestra 1944
Jessica Cottis Australia Glasgow New Music Expedition 1979
The following is a sortable list of female classical conductors . Classical conductors work with orchestras , opera companies , ballet companies and choral groups . [ 1 ] . [ 2 ] Conducting orchestras has been called a glass ceiling by the BBC . [ 3 ]
The following is a sortable list of female classical conductors. Classical conductors work with orchestras, opera companies, ballet companies and choral groups. . Conducting orchestras has been called a glass ceiling by the BBC.