Carolyn Watson Conductor • United States of America

Carolyn Watson, an acclaimed conductor initially from Australia, has been a significant figure on the United States orchestral scene since coming here in 2013. Her career, notable for its global reach, has profoundly influenced orchestral music. Currently leading the La Porte County Symphony as Music Director, Watson also serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. Watson’s expertise in conducting has been showcased with numerous prestigious ensembles including the Austin Symphony, Cape Symphony, Catskill Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Kansas City Ballet, St. Joseph Symphony, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and World Youth Symphony Orchestra. A significant phase in her career was Watson’s acclaimed tenure as Music Director of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, where she led this ensemble to the 2015 American Prize for Orchestral Performance and achieved selection in the 2016 New York Philharmonic Biennial.

Carolyn Watson’s conducting experience and expertise also extend to opera. She has directed performances for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Amarillo Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and a production of As One. Her musical leadership of And Still We Dream for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2020 was highlighted in the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary Higher Octaves: Leading Women in the Arts. Her talent was further recognized at the Hart Institute for Women Conductors in 2017, where she conducted the Dallas Opera in two acclaimed performances.

Looking forward to her 23-24 season, Watson is set for debuts with the South Bend Symphony and the Barrier Reef Orchestra in Australia, alongside returning to the Cape Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and the Monash Academy Orchestra.