French conductor Chloé van Soeterstède is one of the very prestigious Dudamel Fellows this season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She’s working with Gustavo Dudamel, but also with other conducting legends like Michael Tilson Thomas and Zubin Mehta. It’s quite an honor for a young conductor to have this experience and really helps set them up for future success as a music director of a major orchestra.

I spoke with Chloé on the Classical Post podcast where we explore her new experience as a Dudamel Fellow, but also how she created her own London-based orchestra—Arch Sinfonia—which celebrates their 10th anniversary this year.

Comprised of excellent players from other London ensembles like the great Philharmonia and the London Philharmonic, this dynamic organization is named after the idea of building metaphorical bridges—like an “arch” connecting things. In this case, Arch Sinfonia is building unique connections between the audience and the orchestra—even having audience members sit amidst the players, such as right in front of the timpani. The audience even votes at the end of each concert to shape the next concert program. This type of real dialogue has bode well for Chloé and her team, and provides an interesting idea for future discussion.

We also speak of how female conductors among the top 25 American orchestras are extremely rare. And, how she just might be on the cusp of something great now that she’s working at the highest level.

For some fun lifestyle recommendations in this podcast, you’ll hear of Chloé’s love of silky sleeping masks, Pad Thai in London restaurants, and a propensity for modern art.

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