Carolyn Watson Conductor Biography with Work Experience
Orchestral Conductor
KansasCity,KS,USAbe.net/carolyn-watson
Hailing originally from the picturesque landscapes of Australia, Carolyn Watson, a distinguished conductor, has found her musical home in the United States since 2013. With an illustrious career spanning continents, she has left her indelible mark on orchestral music.
Carolyn serves as the Music Director of the La Porte County Symphony and holds the prestigious position of Principal Guest Conductor with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. Her conducting prowess has graced the stages of numerous renowned ensembles, including the Austin Symphony, Cape Symphony, Catskill Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Interlochen Philharmonic, Kansas City Ballet, St. Joseph Symphony, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Notably, Carolyn was internationally recruited as the Music Director of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, where her exceptional leadership earned them the esteemed 2015 American Prize for Orchestral Performance. Her tenure witnessed memorable collaborations with esteemed soloists like Mark O’Connor and Alexandre Tharaud. Carolyn's ongoing connection with Interlochen also extends to her role as conducting faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp.
In addition to her orchestral expertise, Carolyn Watson is a seasoned conductor of opera. Recent highlights in her career include leading performances of operatic gems like "Listen, Wilhemina!" for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, "Hansel and Gretel" for Amarillo Opera, "Fellow Travelers" at Des Moines Metro Opera, and a captivating production
of "As One." Her 2020 endeavor, conducting "And Still We Dream" for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, was even featured in the Emmy-Award-winning PBS documentary, "Higher Octaves: Leading Women in the Arts."
Further cementing her international acclaim, Carolyn conducted the world premiere of Gordon Getty's opera at Festival Napa Valley in 2019. In 2017, she was one of the select few conductors chosen for the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, where she directed the Dallas Opera in two public performances.
Looking ahead to her 23-24 season, Carolyn is set to make her debuts with the South Bend Symphony and the Barrier Reef Orchestra in Australia while also returning to familiar stages like the Cape Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and the Monash Academy Orchestra in her homeland.
Carolyn Watson's musical journey extends beyond the United States and Australia. She achieved significant recognition in the European music scene, winning accolades such as the 2012 Emmerich Kálmán International Operetta Conducting Competition in Budapest. Her European credits feature notable performances at the Staatsoper Berlin during the "Infektion!" festival, conducting Berlin Philharmonic musicians in "Interaktion," a residency at the Israeli National Opera, and assisting the legendarySir Charles Mackerras in his final productions at The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Glyndebourne.
Beyond Europe, Carolyn's international conducting credits are a testament to her artistry. She has worked with esteemed ensembles like the Brandenburger Symphoniker, BBC Concert Orchestra, Budapest Operetta Theatre, Bulgarian State Opera Bourgas, Duna Szimfonikus Budapest, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kammerphilharmonie Graz, Kodály Philharmonia Debrecen, Mihail Jora Philharmonic Romania, Savaria Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic in Russia.
In her native Australia, Carolyn has left an indelible mark with engagements including the Darwin Symphony, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Monash Academy Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Tasmania Discovery Orchestra, and the Willoughby Symphony.
Beyond her remarkable conducting career, Carolyn is a dedicated music educator, currently holding the position of Director of Orchestras at the University of Illinois. She continues to share her expertise through a vibrant freelance career that spans the United States, Europe, and Australia.
Notable achievements and accolades have marked Carolyn's journey as a conductor. She was a Fellow of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival, where she studied under the tutelage of David Zinman. Carolyn has also honed her craft in master classes with luminaries like Marin Alsop, Peter Eötvös, Yoel Levi, Martyn Brabbins, and Alex Polishchuk.
A recipient of several prestigious national and international awards, Carolyn has been honored with the Brian Stacey Award for emerging Australian conductors, the Sir Charles Mackerras Conducting Prize awarded through the Australian Music Foundation in London, Opera Foundation Australia's Bayreuth Opera Award, Berlin New Music Opera Award, and the Nelly Apt Conducting Scholarship. Her musical journey has been made possible through support from institutions like the American Australian Association's Dame Joan Sutherland Fund and the Australian Opera Auditions Committee's Sheila Pryor Study Grant. Carolyn is also a Churchill Fellow and received a Creative Fellowship from the State Library of Victoria.
In 2021, Carolyn Watson was recognized as a finalist in the Arts category of the Australian Government Advance Awards. This esteemed international honor celebrates exceptional Australians making significant contributions to their fields.
Carolyn's academic prowess matches her artistic excellence, as she holds a Ph.D. in Performance (Conducting) from thehttps://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/8797 University of Sydney, where her doctoral thesis explored "Gesture as Communication: The Art of Carlos Kleiber."
To stay connected with Carolyn Watson and her musical journey, visit her official website at www.carolynwatson.com
WORK EXPERIENCE
University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Director of Orchestras Champaign, Illinois, United States
June 2022 - Present
Kansas City Chamber Orchestra
La Porte County Symphony Orchestra Music
Director
Principal Guest Conductor
February 2020 - Present
Lyric Opera Of Kansas City · Freelance
Conductor
November2018-PresentKansasCity,Kansas,UnitedStates
EDUCATION
University Of Sydney
PhD
Performance (Conducting)
Masters of Music, Conducting
2007
2012Australia
University Of Sydney
2005-2006Australia