Richmond Symphony names Valentina Peleggi as new Music Director

Conductor Valentina Peleggi. Photo Credit: Bo Lutoslawski.

On April 7, the Richmond Symphony announced the appointment of award-winning Italian conductor Valentina Peleggi as their next Music Director. Peleggi will begin her role on July 1, 2020, for an initial four-year period conducting at least ten weeks a season. 

This appointment comes after the Richmond Symphony’s two year search to replace former Music Director Steven Smith, who stepped down at the end of the 2018-19 season after a decade of leading the organization. Peleggi was unanimously selected by the Search Committee, which was comprised of symphony musicians and board members, after she spent two weeks with the Symphony in early March.

Peleggi will conduct eight weeks of concerts in the 2020/21 Season, including opening the Symphony’s season with a ‘Big Tent’ open-air community festival, four Masterworks concert weeks, and chamber orchestra concerts in the Symphony’s Rush Hour and Metro Series.

On the appointment, Peleggi says, “The passion, enthusiasm and profound musical sensitivity of the musicians of the Richmond Symphony impressed me enormously from our very first rehearsal. Making music with these wonderful artists is truly a privilege! I look forward to creating exciting new projects, sharing inspiring music with our community, and working with the Symphony’s staff and the orchestra’s innovative educational and choral programs. We will get through these challenging times as we focus on shaping and imagining the future together. I believe we will be a great team and I can't wait to call Richmond my new home.”

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