Stephanie Childress, the accomplished conductor from Franco-British origins, is set to take on the role of principal guest conductor for the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (OBC) during the concert seasons of 2024/25 and 2025/26.

This appointment follows the tenure of the current guest conductor, Marta Gardolińksa, who will continue leading OBC's concerts until the end of the current season in March and April.

Childress, at the age of 24, marked her debut with OBC in 2021 during the orchestra's Catalonia tour, returning the following year, including a notable performance at the Mozart Summer Nights Festival featuring VC Artist Kian Soltani as the soloist.

Her portfolio includes conducting engagements with prestigious orchestras such as the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre de Paris, and the London Symphony Orchestra. The upcoming season will see her debut with the Hamburg Staatsoper, Cleveland Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Poland’s Radio Symphony Orchestra National, and Detroit Opera.

In addition to her skills as a conductor, Childress is a talented violinist, featured on BBC Radio 3 and recognized as a string finalist in both the Royal Overseas League Competition and the 2016 BBC Young Musician Strings category. In 2017, she served as the artistic director for the Young Virtuosi Festival.

Childress is scheduled to lead OBC in a concert program dedicated to Chopin, featuring pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, on April 27 and 28, 2024. In response to her appointment, Childress expressed her honor and excitement, emphasizing her longstanding connection with the organization since their initial meeting.

Robert Brufau, the director of L’Auditori, the venue where OBC performs, highlighted the significance of Childress's inclusion, noting her impactful presence in the sector and the potential for the institution to become an international benchmark, not just musically but also reflecting the complex social reality that surrounds it.