“The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced Franco-British conductor Stephanie Childress as its new assistant conductor, starting next season,” writes Susan Elliott in Wednesday’s (12/9) Musical America (subscription required). “She succeeds former Resident Conductor Gemma New, now music director of the Hamilton (Canada) Philharmonic and principal guest of the Dallas Symphony…. Billed as a ‘regular assistant to Simon Rattle,’ Childress is a violinist-turned-conductor and will in fact perform with the SLSO in concerts this year. She conducts the orchestra (in chamber formation) for the first time in the spring. She is to preside over the SLSO Youth Orchestra. Music Director Stéphane Denève makes his opinion clear: ‘In my entire life, I have never been so excited by the discovery of a new talent! Stephanie Childress is truly special and has a tremendously bright future….’ Childress’s competition wins are both instrumental and conducting, including second prize at the inaugural La Maestra conducting competition in Paris this year. She has conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). She established her own ensemble, Orchestra Rheia, in 2019, and was principal conductor of the London Lawyers’ Symphony Orchestra for the 2019/20 season.”
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