Stephanie Childress

Strong ideas, lucid communication and intensely focused energy are among the qualities that define Stephanie Childress among today’s most compelling conductors. Her musicianship and command of a broad scope of repertoire have already led her to establish herself on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2024/25, Childress begins her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya with an opening concert in November conducting Strauss’ Metamorphosen and Stravinsky’s Petrushka. Future concerts with the orchestra include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.1 and Poulenc’s Stabat Mater with soprano Alexandra Lowe.

This season also marks a series of international returns to the Cleveland, New World, Utah and North Carolina Symphony Orchestras, as well as  Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre National d’Île-de-France and Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier. Alongside these she will debut with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, Royal Northern Sinfonia and MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig. From 2021 to 2023 she was the Assistant Conductor of the St Louis Symphony under Stéphane Denève, during which she enjoyed multiple subscription concerts with the orchestra and developed strong musical ties in North America. Last season saw her debut with the National Arts Centre Ottawa, Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Minnesota Symphony Orchestras. She is currently the Associate Conductor of the Sun Valley Music Festival.

Inspired to pursue conducting through her love for opera, the Franco-British conductor started the 2023/24 season at the Hamburg Staatsoper conducting Die Entführung aus dem Serail and returning to Glyndebourne’s autumn season for Don Giovanni. Together they mark the latest milestone in the development of a fine Mozartian, hailed by the Guardian for the “lithe vitality” of her interpretation of Le nozze di Figaro at Glyndebourne and on tour in 2022. A passionate advocate for contemporary opera, last season also marked her debut at the Detroit Opera with Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves and the world premiere of Simon Voseček’s Ogres at the Prague State Opera.

Childress enjoys a close relationship with the French cultural scene following her second-prize win at the 2020 inaugural conducting competition, La Maestra. Since then, she has conducted Orchestre de Paris, Paris Mozart Orchestra and Orchestre de Chambre de Paris. In September 2023, following her involvement as one of the first conducting fellows of l’Académie de l’Opéra national de Paris, she made her debut at the Palais Garnier with l’Orchestre Pasdeloup for the ballet company’s opening gala.

A passionate advocate for amplifying the role of music within today’s world, Childress previously undertook a residency at the Villa Albertine, a network for arts and ideas spanning France and the United States. She is also a member of the Franco-British Young Leaders’ Program, a scheme created by the Franco-British Council to further cooperation across both sides of the Channel. Stephanie is a relentless supporter of youth music programs and is passionate about conducting, coaching, and mentoring young musicians. She is currently the artistic director of the Sun Valley Music Festival Institute and returns to the Sarasota Music Festival in June 2025.