Conductor – Page 5 – Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Valentina Peleggi

Valentina Peleggi has been music director of the Richmond Symphony since the 2020–2021 season and has already revitalized the orchestra’s artistic output.

Steve Hackman

A multi-hyphenate music powerhouse and visionary producer, Steve Hackman is a daring voice leading the charge among a new generation of classical musicians intent on redefining the genre.

Ferdinando Sulla studied organ and composition at the Conservatory “S. Giacomantonio” in Cosenza (Italy) and deepens his composition and orchestration studies in Milan with composer Giampaolo Testoni.

Farkhad Khudyev

Described by the critics as “phenomenon” (Seattle Post Alley),“magician on the podium”(Performing Arts Monterey Bay), with “the ability to connect with invisible worlds and to bring them alive in the music” (Herald), Farkhad Khudyev, has been recognized by the government of the United States as an Artist of Extraordinary Ability.Khudyev is the winner of the Gold Medal “Beethoven 250” Special Prize at the 1st International Arthur Nikisch Conducting Competition; the Solti Foundation US 2022Career Assistance Award; the Solti Foundation US 2018 Career Assistance Award; the Best InterpretationPrize at the 1st International Taipei Conducting Competitionin Taiwan; the 3rd prize at the 8th International Sir Georg Solti Conducting Competitionin Germany; the 1st Prize at the Yale Chamber Music Society Competition, and the Gold Medaland Grand Prize at the 2007 National Fischoff Competitionin the US.Khudyevhas worked with orchestras worldwide including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestraand Frankfurt Opera Orchestraof Germany, Danish National SymphonyOrchestraof Denmark, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Monterey Symphony,George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestraof Romania, Xi’an Symphony Orchestraof Chinaand the State Taipei Chinese Orchestraof Taiwan.Farkhad Khudyev, of Azerbaijani descent, was born in Turkmenistan, where he studied at the State Music School for gifted musicians, and then completed his studies at Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin Conservatory and Yale University.Khudyev serves as the Music Director of the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra in Austin, and the Orchestral Institute at the Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts in Carmel, California.

Stephen Mulligan

American conductor Stephen Mulligan is Associate Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Julien Benichou

Making his mark as a champion for the future of classical music, thanks to his commitment to new music and innovative programming; Julien Benichou is widely recognized for his inspiring musicality, incredibly infectious energy, and creatively fostering the next generation of musicians and audiences.

Ellie Lin

Artistic Director of the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus (DSCC), Ellie Lin, is also the High School Choir Director of High Point Academy in Fort Worth, Artistic Director/Conductor of the Great Land Choral Society, and a faculty member at Texas Music Conservatory.

John McLaughlin Williams

Grammy Award-winning conductor John McLaughlin Williams has been critically acclaimed for his outstanding interpretive abilities and engaging podium presence. Equally at home in the standard literature and the masterworks of American composers, it was with the release of his acclaimed recordings on the Naxos label that his conducting first attracted international attention.

Damon Gupton

Damon Gupton is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he served as American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony and held the post of assistant conductor of the Kansas City Symphony.

Edo de Waart

Throughout his long and illustrious career, and alongside his existing posts, renowned Dutch conductor, Edo de Waart, has held a multitude of posts with orchestras around the world including Music Directorships with San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and a Chief Conductorship with De Nederlandse Opera.