Michelle Merrill has been appointed as the music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony (WSS) for the next three years, following an extensive 18-month search. This appointment is significant as she becomes the first female conductor to lead a professional orchestra in the Carolinas.
Out of 62 applicants, Merrill was one of the six finalists selected for the position. She will be taking over from Timothy Redmond, who resigned unexpectedly after a little over two years. Merrill's selection was based on her exceptional community engagement skills and her ability to inspire, innovate, and collaborate. She will continue her role as a guest conductor and music director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia.
Prior to joining WSS, Merrill served as an assistant and associate conductor under Leonard Slatkin at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where she also held the position of Phillip and Lauren Fisher Community Ambassador. She has received several accolades throughout her career, including the 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award and the 2013 Ansbacher Conducting Fellowship, which allowed her to reside at the Salzburg Festival.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Merrill had a musical background, playing the drums in high school and studying saxophone in college. She later pursued a master's degree in conducting under Paul C. Phillips at Southern Methodist University, along with a bachelor's degree in performance and music education.
Merrill's debut performance with WSS is scheduled for September 2023 at the Reynolds Auditorium, marking the beginning of the season. She expressed her excitement about joining the symphony and her belief in making its programs inclusive and accessible to people from all walks of life.
Merritt Vale, the CEO and president of WSS, enthusiastically welcomed Michelle Merrill as the new artistic leader, praising her ability to connect with people and create magical experiences on stage. The Winston-Salem Symphony, now entering its 76th season, is highly regarded in the Southeast as a regional orchestra that brings music to audiences of all ages in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad through concerts, educational initiatives, and community engagement programs.
