History was made with Lexington Philharmonic’s appointment of Mélisse Brunert as its first female Music Director.
Brunert did not begin this process with an application, audition, or trial – at least not an official trial. Back in May, Brunert was asked to step in as a guest conductor on behalf of one of the candidates for the music director position. According to MSN, “They did not consider me [Brunert] as a finalist, and I did not consider myself as a finalist.”
That did not stop her from getting the position over the other candidates auditioning. Brunert is originally from Paris, France and says she looks forward to “[spending] more time getting to know central Kentucky and its vibrant arts and music scenes.”
The Lexington Philharmonic, founded in 1961, has had four Music Directors prior to Brunert, making her the first woman in 61 years to be appointed.
Brunert succeeds Scott Terrell, who began his term in 2009 and stepped down in 2019. Terrell’s time was characterized by the Lexington Philharmonic press release announcing his stepping down as “an era of unparalleled artistic growth and engagement for the orchestra.” Brunert will serve an initial five-year term that could possibly be renewed.
Before taking the position in Lexington, Brunert served as the Music Director for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. She graduated as an undergraduate at the Paris Conservatory, Université la Sorbonne and received her doctorate from the University of Michigan. According to The Violin Channel, she studied under Pierre Boulez. She competed in the 2022 International Competition La Maestra, a competition based in Paris dedicated to increasing the number of women in the orchestral industry.
The Lexington Philharmonic is not her first time making history. She was the first woman in 100 years to fill the role of Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Iowa School of Music.
According to the Lexington Philharmonic’s Executive Director, “Mélisse is an inspiring musician with immense talent and artistry, whose passion for music and life shone clearly both on and off the podium during her time in Lexington.”
In the same press release, Brunert stated, “From the first rehearsal for the May concert until the performance, I felt an immediate connection between the orchestra and myself. How everything clicked and aligned was fortuitous and so incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to work with the musicians and staff of the Lexington Philharmonic to share our passion for music to make a positive difference in our community.”
The Lexington Herald-Leader points out a roughly ten percent national rise in female Music Directors around the country. Further, that this will be “an important source of inspiration” for women in leadership roles in the realm of music.
