Updated 01:44 PM EDT, Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Alondra de la Parra Makes History as First Female Conductor & Musical Director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra

  • +
  • -
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE

Mexican Alondra De la Parra has just made history by being the first woman to be named female conductor and musical director of  the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, one of Australia's three largest orchestras.

As per a report with NBC News, the 34-year old music director is on a league of her own, becoming one of the few females to direct a major orchestra. With the world of major symphony orchestra being a largely male dominated field, De la Perra has made world history with her achievement. The publication notes that only a dozen women lead major orchestras. 

De la Perra says that directing a music orchestra has always been a dream of hers, and the appointment is of utmost importance to her. She relates that the dream began when she was just a teenager. 

"It's something very exciting because I have been preparing and working all my life, to be director of a fine institution," the 34-year old said of her childhood dream and what she did to achieve it. "It's definitely a dream come true." 

Though currently living in Mexico City, de La Perra considers herself to be a full-blooded New Yorker, having been born there. The family moved to Mexico when she was just two, but has since then spent much of her time traveling from place to place. Over the last decade, the 34-year old has traveled to countries like Italy, Brazil, Sweden and Germany. In 2004, De la Perra made history again by becoming the first Mexican woman to conduct in New York. She also became the first female to to lead France's Orchestre de Paris in 2014. 

The Orlando Sentinel also reported that De La Perra founded the Philharmonic Orchestra of Americas at just 23. The orchestra features young arists. 

"I had to learn every single part of what it takes to make an orchestra succeed - hiring a board of directors, promoting the concerts, looking at the financials," she said. "It was like going to college for orchestral management." 

The 34-year old adds that she is proud to be a positive influence to children everywhere, particularly little girls who dream of becoming music conductors. The music director added that her being Mexican was just a part of her identity. When she takes the stage, she feels one with her baton. 

"I am a woman, I am a Mexican but that is just part of the many ingredients that make me who I am. It's more three dimensional than the particular labels." she said. 

© 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
Close

Curiosidades

Real Time Analytics