Last night, Shi-Yeon Sung became the first woman to lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra since its founding by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881. Sung won first prize at the 2006 Sir Georg Solti International Conductors Competition. Shortly thereafter, James Levine invited her to become the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new assistant conductor for the 2007/2008 season. She continues to lead the orchestra’s performances through Sunday.
Watch Shi-Yeon Sung rehearse with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
For more, read Andrea Shea’s excellent piece on WBUR.
Ken says
She’s the fifth woman, not the first.
bigbaby says
Thanks Ken. What I meant to say is that she’s the BSO’s first full-time female assistant conductor to take the stage.