As part of a series of articles titled “40 under Forty: New York’s Rising Stars,” Maia Blume writes in Monday’s (3/29) Crain’s New York Business, “Waving her baton jubilantly as she led her orchestra through a performance with dance troupe Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company last October, Alondra de la Parra vividly displayed her passion for the music. Growing up in Mexico City, Ms. de la Parra, who attended concerts of all types with her parents, had always gravitated toward the classical realm. … After graduating from high school, Ms. de la Parra came to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music. Struck by the lack of opportunity for new artists, she founded the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas during her sophomore year to serve as a platform for young composers and musicians. … She raised $70,000 from corporate sponsors—including Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa—for her first concert, held in 2004 at The Town Hall. The event marked the first time a Mexican woman had conducted an orchestra in New York. Now the 75-musician ensemble, of which she is artistic director, boasts an annual budget of $1.5 million.”
Photo by Kfir Ziv
Posted April 2, 2010
