Alexandra Arrieche is a trailblazing conductor, celebrated for blending classical tradition with bold innovation. Her unwavering belief in the orchestra as a dynamic and inclusive space has fueled her presence on and off the podium. With leadership roles spanning diverse ensembles—including Music Director of the Olympia Symphony in Washington, Principal Conductor of the Antwerp Philharmonic in Belgium, and Principal Conductor of Night of the Proms—she brings versatility and a fearless, genre-fluid artistic vision to every project.

 

As a guest conductor, Arrieche has appeared with some of the world’s leading ensembles, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Sarasota Orchestra. Her celebrated debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival was heralded by the Chicago Tribune as a “fine, stirring performance,” firmly establishing her as one of today’s most dynamic conductors. A passionate advocate for the voices of our time, Arrieche also champions works by celebrated contemporary composers such as Dobrinka Tabakova, Lera Auerbach, Mason Bates, Clarice Assad, Gabriela Lena Frank and Carlos Simon.

 

Appointed Music Director of the Olympia Symphony in 2022, Arrieche has introduced a transformative and inclusive artistic vision to the Pacific Northwest. Redefining the orchestra as a deeply collaborative force, she champions community engagement and cross-disciplinary performances, integrating classical and contemporary music with local dance companies, theater groups, visual artists, and singer-songwriters. Deeply committed to the next generation, she launched the Olympia Symphony’s Young Artists Competition and Masterclass Series to provide vital platforms for emerging talent.

 

Arrieche is one of the few classical musicians to master the crossover space so seamlessly, working to ensure symphonic music reaches an ever-greater audience. Since 2015, her overwhelming success as Principal Conductor of the European Emmy Award-winning Night of the Proms has led to spectacular performances alongside legendary pop artists, including Alice Cooper, Bryan Ferry, Seal, Toto, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Joss Stone, Simple Minds, and Alan Parsons. To further explore the intersections of classical and pop music, she launched the globally successful podcast Beethoven Was a Rockstar, breaking through traditional boundaries for thousands of listeners worldwide.

 

This boundary-breaking philosophy extends to her discography. As a recording artist, her international reputation has been shaped by a collaboration with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and arranger Roeland Jacobs. Their album Saudade, featuring Brazilian music, won the prestigious Edison Prize in 2020 for Best Jazz Album. Expanding her ambitious symphonic crossover projects with the Antwerp Philharmonic, Arrieche and Jacobs released The Seven Symphonies: A Classical Tribute to The Beach Boys (2022), which was shortlisted for a Grammy Award and documented in the film Back to the Beach, Boys. In 2025, she led the premiere of Another Seven Symphonies: A Symphonic Tribute to Beatles Music in Liverpool to a standing ovation. Looking ahead, she will lead the Dutch premiere of The Focus Symphony at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in May 2026, reimagining the progressive rock catalog of Focus for the symphonic stage.

 

Born in Brazil, Arrieche’s rise is rooted in a profound commitment to mentorship and expanding opportunities for others. In 2015, she founded the Conducting Studio in Brazil to address the lack of professional training opportunities for young conductors in her home country. She also serves as a mentor for the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, supporting the advancement of women in the field. Her inspiring journey and commitment to her craft are featured in The Conductor, a 2021 documentary about her mentor, Marin Alsop, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival with Arrieche opening the screening by conducting young female musicians from the New York Youth Symphony.

 

Alexandra Arrieche is redefining what it means to lead in today’s musical landscape—passionate about creating a more vibrant, engaging, and deeply connected future for symphony orchestras.