Meet the SLSO’s Debuting Guest Conductors of the 2026/27 Season

By Maddie Hurst

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra welcomes a remarkable roster of guest conductors to the Powell Hall stage for its 2026/27 classical concert season, eight of whom are making their SLSO debut. These guest conductors’ debut programs span orchestral classics including Claude Debussy’s La Mer to a historic collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for Wynton Marsalis’ Symphony No. 5.

The SLSO’s 147th season reflects the institution’s commitment to unifying the St. Louis community, and beyond, through the power of music. By welcoming acclaimed conductors from around the world, the orchestra continues to offer audiences new perspectives while consistently showcasing the extraordinary musicianship of one of the nation’s leading orchestras, elevating the arts and culture landscape of St. Louis on the national and international stage.

Meet the artists bringing fresh outlooks and unforgettable music to Powell Hall this season.

The season’s guest conductor appearances begin with a standout leader on today’s international musical stage. Ukrainian-born Dalia Stasevska leads Claude Debussy’s La Mer, alongside music by Anna Meredith, Jean Sibelius, Luciano Berio, and an improvisational take on a traditional melody featuring soprano and nyckelharpist Aphrodite Patoulidou in a program that illuminates nautical-inspired music.

Admired for her vivacious conducting, Stasevska serves as the Principal Guest Conductor at the BBC Symphony Orchestra as well as Lahti Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor.

Fun Fact: Stasevska was given the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree award by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2021 for increasing awareness of Ukraine’s history and eminence.

Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska brings her global perspective and reputation to the SLSO in her program honoring European folk music. This concert features the US premiere of fellow Estonian Ülo Krigul’s Proteus Pulse, W.A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, and Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish.” Schumann’s Third Symphony depicts the vibrant culture found near the Rhine River in Germany; his music leads audiences through folk dances, the rural countryside, and a grand cathedral.

Poska currently serves as the Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes (French Youth Orchestra) and has guest conducted at orchestras around the world. French newspaper La Figaro has said of Poska, “[She has] uncompromising artistic vision, authoritative command, and an exceptional sense of musical architecture.”

Fun Fact: Poska has been the first female to hold multiple titles, including General Music Director at Theater Basel in 2018 and Principal Guest Conductor at the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra in May 2021.

Before pursuing conducting, Dinis Sousa originally planned to become a filmmaker, but he pivoted when he discovered his love for music and founded Orquestra XXI, an orchestra for highly accomplished young musicians living abroad from their native country of Portugal. Sousa’s orchestra is “one of Portugal’s most important cultural communities” according to its website.

For his SLSO debut, Sousa leads a concert that includes music by legendary composers Béla Bartók, Antonin Dvořák, and Kaija Saariaho. Sousa is currently the Music Director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

The Guardian said, “Sousa was electrifying in moments of grandeur, high drama and emotional intensity.”

Fun Fact: Sousa was the 2023 recipience of the Critics’ Circle Young Talent Award.

Chilean-Italian conductor Paolo Bortolameolli makes his first appearance on the Powell Hall stage conducting a dynamic program with music by Miguel Farías, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and the inaugural SLSO performance of Kris Bowers’ For a Younger Self Violin Concerto which explores the feelings of fear and uncertainty Bowers had when moving away for college.

A passionate advocate for music education, Bortolameolli founded Sinfónica Azteca, a youth orchestra and educational residency program in Mexico. In addition to his education endeavors, he currently holds four titled positions in orchestras in South America and Arizona, where he leads the Phoenix Symphony as Music Director Designate.

Fun Fact: When Bortolameolli was seven, he saw Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 performed and was so moved he began crying. After, he met the conductor who told him “This is exactly why we do what we do.” Bortolameolli’s life was changed from that moment on.  

Praised by The Washington Post as a conductor, “who trades flash for focus and puts a premium on clarity,” Anja Bihlmaier brings a thoughtful and purposeful approach to her SLSO debut, a program celebrating legendary women. Joined by pianist Yeol Eum Son, Bihlmaier leads the SLSO through its first performance of music by Mel Bonis, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Richard Strauss’ Elektra Symphonic Suite, which she recently conducted with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The program highlights both her affinity for richly expressive repertoire and her ability to illuminate orchestral detail.

Fun Fact: Bihlmaier began her career conducting at opera houses and across Europe leading operas such as Midsummer Night’s Dream, Fliegender Hollaender (The Flying Dutchman), and La Traviata (The Fallen Woman).

Grammy Award-winning conductor Teddy Abrams makes his anticipated SLSO debut with the electrifying St. Louis premiere: Wynton Marsalis’ Symphony No. 5, “Liberty.” This piece was co-commissioned by the SLSO and will be performed in collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Rounding out an all-American program, this program opens with the contrasting voices of Aaron Copland’s contemplative Our Town, the reflective suite from the 1940 Americana film of the same name, and John Adams’ energetic Frenzy: a short symphony, a more recent entry in the catalogue of one of the most celebrated living American composers.

Abrams is not only a conductor, but also a composer, known for his rap-classical-dance-opera fusion commemorating professional boxer Muhammad Ali. He is the composer of the score for a Broadway production titled ALI, a musical encompassing the life of Ali. In addition to serving as Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra, he was recently named Artistic and Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival, with his tenure beginning September 2026.

Fun fact: Abrams was named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year in 2022.

Carlos Miguel Prieto leads a program of resilience, resistance, and celebration in his first appearance with the SLSO. Joined by members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, Prieto selected for his St. Louis debut a deeply meaningful and Grammy Award-winning musical response to feminist protests in his native Mexico, composed by his compatriot and frequent collaborator, Gabriela Ortiz. Prieto will lead the orchestra in the SLSO’s first performance of Ortiz’s Revolución diamantina (Glitter Revolution).  

Prieto has a passion for music education and has been the Music Director of Youth Orchestra of the Americas for 15 years. “Being part of a young Orchestra is the reason why I became a conductor,” Prieto said. 

Fun fact: Ortiz and Prieto have collaborated for more than 30 years.

The 2026/27 SLSO guest conductor debuts conclude with Domingo Hindoyan, Chief Conductor at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Music Director Designate of the Los Angeles Opera. Hindoyan has mastered both the orchestral and operatic stages and travels around the world leading organizations in both.

Hindoyan conducts an energetic program with music by Zoltán Kodály, a salsa-inspired piece by Roberto Sierra featuring acclaimed trumpeter Pacho Flores, and Béla Bartók, who wrote his five-movement Concerto for Orchestra during the height of WWII while battling undiagnosed leukemia.

Fun Fact: Hindoyan was born in Venezuela and studied in the El Sistema program before travelling the world to study conducting, testifying to the transformative power of music.

The eight new conductors taking the podium at Powell Hall each bring a unique collection of experiences, talents, and stories to the SLSO. Together with the musicians of the orchestra, these artists will create performances that emphasize the power of music to connect, inspire, and move anyone with a willingness to listen.

For more information about the season and to purchase tickets visit: 

Event Calendar – St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Maddie Hurst is the Summer 2026 SLSO Communications and Public Relations Intern.