Opening Night: New World

Renowned as a conductor of “uncommon emotional intensity” (Marie-Celine) and a “force at the podium” (Eugene Scene), American conductor Mélisse Brunet is a native of Paris, France with an active career on both sides of the Atlantic. In July 2022, she became the fifth Music Director of the Lexington Philharmonic, and the first woman to hold the position.

Brunet is one of the five conductors featured in the documentary “Maestra” by the Director Maggie Contreras. As a dynamic advocate of contemporary music, Brunet has collaborated with composers such as Shawn E. Okpebholo, Brittany J. Green, Mary D. Watkins, T.J. Cole, Steven Stucky, Michael Daugherty, Shulamit Ran, and Jennifer Higdon, among others.

She holds diplomas from the Paris Conservatory, the Université la Sorbonne, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Doctorate in conducting from the University of Michigan.

Learn more at lexphil.org/music-director.

Recognized for her “warm, velvety tone”, Lexington-born cellist, Ania Lewis, has performed in leading concert venues around the world, including the Musikverein in Vienna, Lincoln Center, Symphony Hall in Boston, and Severance Hall. Ms. Lewis will be joining the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Cellist in the fall of 2026.

Ms. Lewis started studying cello at the age of 6 with Clyde Beavers before moving to Cleveland, OH a few years later. She made her solo debut with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra at age 14. With a strong love for orchestral playing, Ms. Lewis has been principal cellist of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and is currently the associate principal cellist of Symphony in C.

She has joined performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and the Boston Symphony.