Conductor Michelle Merrill: Leading Classical Music with Joy and Inclusivity
Michelle Merrill
Michelle Merrill’s journey to the podium began in an unexpected way—in a small town in Texas, where a Halloween candy haul led her to her first piano lesson. "The person handing out candy had attached a business card for piano lessons," Merrill recalls, reflecting on her start. From that moment, music became the core of her life. Today, Merrill is the Music Director of both the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, and her career has been defined by a remarkable blend of determination, joyful energy, and a commitment to inclusivity in classical music.
Raised in Canton, Texas, Merrill’s introduction to music was a mixture of curiosity and family influence. Inspired by her older sister, she took up the saxophone in addition to piano, eventually pursuing dual degrees in performance and music education at Southern Methodist University (SMU). Her interest in conducting took root during her time as a drum major in high school and later deepened when she began sitting in on graduate conducting seminars at SMU. Merrill credits her initial conducting instructor, Paul Phillips, and her early mentor, Larry Lowe, with instilling in her the confidence to take on the podium—helping her find her own voice as a conductor.
Merrill’s career trajectory has been anything but ordinary. After completing her education, she gained valuable experience with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic under the mentorship of Larry Lowe, who showed her that conducting could balance both the profound and the playful. “You could really be a showman and put on a show for the audience,” she notes. This realization resonated deeply with Merrill, who found joy in blending both the serious and the lighthearted aspects of music—something akin to the dual careers of actors like Steve Carell, who seamlessly navigate between drama and comedy.
Her time with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) was pivotal. Merrill’s assistant conductorship in Detroit came about after Lowe recommended her for the position to Leonard Slatkin, the DSO’s music director. The audition led to a life-changing offer. “I was thrilled, but they needed me back in two weeks,” she says, describing the whirlwind move from Florida to Detroit. During her four-year tenure at the DSO, Merrill was immersed in all aspects of performance and outreach—leading subscription concerts, education webcasts, and pre-concert talks. “Detroit really threw me into the deep end, and I loved it,” she says. It was here that she also honed her skills as a communicator, a talent encouraged by Slatkin, who remains a significant influence on her approach to engaging audiences.
One particularly memorable moment came during her classical subscription debut with the DSO, where she conducted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6. The performance held a personal significance—it took place on what would have been her late father's birthday, a poignant reminder of her journey and the personal connections that have always fueled her music-making. “Beethoven 6 was the first orchestral score I ever bought, and to perform it in Detroit on that day was incredibly meaningful,” Merrill shares.
Currently, as the first female Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony and the only woman to lead a professional orchestra in the Carolinas, Merrill understands the importance of representation. Though she was never explicitly told that she couldn’t be a conductor, she recognizes the impact of her presence on the podium. “My husband told me about the little girls in the audience at one of my early webcasts who were conducting along with me,” she recalls. “Seeing someone like them on stage showed them that they could imagine themselves there too.” This realization has made Merrill even more determined to serve as a role model, not only for young girls but also for anyone who needs to see that their dreams are achievable.
Merrill’s passion for education shines through in her work. With her background in music education, she finds special joy in crafting programs for young audiences. “Those are our next listeners,” she says. Her dedication to outreach is evident in her belief that music should be accessible and engaging for everyone, whether she’s conducting a pops concert featuring John Williams’ scores or leading a performance of a grand symphony. Merrill wants each audience member to feel the joy and inspiration that drew her to music in the first place.
Looking forward, Merrill aims to continue developing her career by working with top-level orchestras and expanding her musical repertoire. While she has already worked with many of the top 25 orchestras in the U.S. as a guest conductor, Merrill hopes to secure a music director role with one of these major institutions. “I’ve been fortunate to guest conduct at many wonderful places, and I’d love to keep building from here,” she says. Without an agent, Merrill’s career has grown primarily through word of mouth—a testament to her work ethic and the relationships she’s cultivated with musicians and directors around the country. “I hope that what I’m doing speaks for itself,” she adds, emphasizing her gratitude for the opportunities she’s been given.
In terms of musical influences, Merrill speaks highly of her mentors, including Paul Phillips and Leonard Slatkin, who helped shape her understanding of how to bring music to life in an authentic way. She also admires conductors like Carlos Kleiber for their ability to make musical ideas emerge almost magically. Merrill’s fascination with artists who blend deep musical knowledge with a palpable love of performance—whether they are legendary conductors or young artists on the brink of something big—reflects her own approach to her work.
One such young artist is pianist and violinist Ray Ushikubo, with whom Merrill recently collaborated for Winston-Salem Symphony's season opener. “He played perhaps the greatest Rhapsody in Blue I’ve ever heard,” she says, describing his dynamic, jazz-like approach. The concert ended with Ushikubo switching to violin for a performance of Gershwin’s Variations on “I’ve Got Rhythm,” showcasing his remarkable versatility. “He’s really talented, and I can’t wait to work with him again,” Merrill adds.
When it comes to her legacy, Merrill hopes to be remembered for bringing joy to the music-making process. “The reason we all became professional musicians is because something inside us sparked that joy,” she says. Whether she is conducting a major symphonic work or creating an innovative educational concert, Merrill strives to foster an environment where musicians and audiences alike can feel the magic of music. “I want to help even the most seasoned musicians reconnect with the feeling they had when they first fell in love with music.”
Michelle Merrill is an artist who embraces her role as both a leader and a learner, a conductor who balances authority with approachability and joy. Her journey from a child with a piano lesson business card in Canton, Texas, to the music director of two orchestras, demonstrates not only her skill but also her passion for bringing music to everyone, from seasoned concertgoers to first-time listeners. With her eye on new opportunities and her heart in every performance, Merrill is a conductor who truly brings the music to life.
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