About Carolyn Watson Conductor

Carolyn Watson, an Orchestral Conductor initially from Australia, has been an influential force on the United States orchestral scene since moving here in 2013.

Orchestral Leadership and Excellence

Watson is the Music Director of the La Porte County Symphony in Indiana and holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She has led numerous ensembles throughout the US, 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.

Impactful Tenure at Interlochen Arts Academy

A standout phase in her career was her leadership of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, where under her direction, the orchestra secured the 2015 American Prize for Orchestral Performance and was invited to perform at the 2016 New York Philharmonic Biennial this period also included collaborations with prominent soloists including Mark O'Connor and Alexandre Tharaud, and a world premiere performance of Mike Thurber's The Three Musketeers on NPR's From the Top.

Expanding into the World of Opera

Beyond orchestral music, Watson has an impressive record in opera conducting. Recent highlights include leading performances of Listen, Wilhemina! for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Hansel and Gretel for Amarillo Opera, Fellow Travelers at Des Moines Metro Opera, and a production of As One. Her outstanding leadership of And Still We Dream with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2020 was featured in the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary Higher Octaves: Leading Women in the Arts. In 2017, Carolyn Watson was chosen for the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, where she led the Dallas Opera in two acclaimed public performances.

Global Acclaim and Premieres

Invited to lead the world premiere of Gordon Getty's opera Goodbye Mr. Chips at Festival Napa Valley in 2020, the pandemic unfortunately meant this opportunity was forfeited. Watson has led the US premiere of numerous works by Australian composers, including Katia Beaugeais, Elena Kats-Chernin, and John Peterson, along with the Australian premiere of Louise Farrenc's Symphony No. 1 and many world premieres. With the University of Illinois, where she is Director of Orchestras, Watson has instigated Project 1874, a commissioning and recording project celebrating the works of female composers.

Future Endeavors and Performances

Looking forward to the 23-24 season, Watson is poised to debut with the South Bend Symphony and Barrier Reef Orchestra in Australia while also returning to established platforms, including the Cape Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and Monash Academy Orchestra.

European Achievements and Influence

Watson's musical journey extended to Europe, where she won multiple prizes at the 2012 Emmerich Kálmán International Operetta Conducting Competition in Budapest. Her European credentials include performances at the Staatsoper Berlin during Infektion!, conducting musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic in Interaktion, a residency at the Israeli National Opera, and assisting Sir Charles Mackerras at The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Glyndebourne.

Expansive International Conducting Portfolio

Carolyn Watson boasts an extensive international conducting portfolio, working with ensembles including the Brandenburger Symphoniker, BBC Concert Orchestra, Budapest Operetta Theatre, Bulgarian State Opera Burgas, 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.

Significant Contribution to Australian Music

In Australia, Carolyn Watson's contributions have been especially noteworthy and involve engagements with the Darwin Symphony, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Monash Academy Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Tasmania Discovery Orchestra, and the Willoughby Symphony. She also performed for Pope Benedict XVI on his arrival in Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008 for a live audience of 100,000 and an international television audience of five million.

Dedication to Music Education

Beyond her professional conducting achievements, Watson is passionate about music education and currently serves as Director of Orchestras at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She extends her influence through a vibrant freelance career across the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Accolades and Professional Growth

Accolades mark Carolyn Watson's career. She was a Fellow of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival, studying under David Zinman, having also refined her skills in masterclasses with noted conductors such as Marin Alsop, Peter Eötvös, Yoel Levi, Martyn Brabbins, and Alex Polishchuk. Watson's awards include the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors, Sir Charles Mackerras Conducting Prize, Opera Foundation Australia's Bayreuth Opera Award, Berlin New Music Opera Award, and the Nelly Apt Conducting Scholarship. Institutions, including the American Australian Association and the Australian Opera Auditions Committee, have supported her career development.

Recognition and Expertise

In 2021, Watson was a finalist in the Arts category of the Australian Government Advance Awards, recognizing her outstanding global contributions to the arts. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance (Conducting) from the University of Sydney, where her doctoral research focused on Gesture as Communication: The Art of Carlos Kleiber. To stay updated on Carolyn Watson's journey and upcoming projects, her official website, www.carolyn-watson.com, offers insights and the latest information.