Alexandra is a trailblazing conductor whose career blends classical tradition with innovation. With leadership roles across diverse orchestras, international collaborations, award-winning recordings, mentorship initiatives, and a boundary-breaking podcast, she is redefining what it means to lead in today’s musical landscape, continually pushing boundaries to create a more inclusive and engaging future for Symphony Orchestras.
As Music Director of the Olympia Symphony, Alexandra has brought a bold and inclusive vision to the organization. Under her leadership, the Symphony has become a driving force of community connection and artistic innovation. She has cultivated collaborations with local arts organizations, including dance companies, theater groups, visual artists, and singer-songwriter programs—creating interdisciplinary performances that reflect and celebrate the rich artistic landscape of the region. These collaborations have contributed to an increase in new subscribers, as the Symphony’s programming continues to attract broader and more diverse audiences.
Education and youth engagement have also been central to her work. Alexandra launched the Olympia Symphony’s Young Artists Competition and an ongoing Masterclass Series to support the development of emerging musicians. These programs offer local students and early-career artists opportunities to perform, receive feedback, and connect with professional mentors—deepening the Symphony’s relationship with the next generation.
Her commitment to education extends beyond Olympia. She founded the Conducting Studio in Brazil to address the lack of training opportunities for young conductors in her home country. She also serves as a mentor for the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, a program supporting the advancement of women in the field.
Alexandra serves as the conductor for Night of the Proms, the acclaimed European Emmy Award–winning concert series that fuses classical music with legends of the pop music world. Her successful debut earned her the role of principal conductor for both Night of the Proms and the Antwerp Philharmonic. Since then, she has toured across Europe, conducting the orchestra in shows alongside a stellar lineup of artists such as Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams (Toto), Bryan Ferry, Joe Jackson, Seal, Suzanne Vega, Simple Minds, Chaka Khan, Roger Hodgson, Dave Stewart, and Alan Parsons.
Establishing herself as a recording artist, Alexandra’s collaboration with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, featuring Brazilian music arranged by Roeland Jacobs, has garnered international recognition. The first album in the series, Saudade, won the prestigious Edison Prize for Best Jazz Album of the Year. Continuing their creative partnership, she and Jacobs released The Seven Symphonies: A Classical Tribute to the Beach Boys, recorded with the Antwerp Philharmonic. The album was shortlisted for a Grammy Award, and the recording process was featured in the documentary Back to the Beach, Boys, which offers an intimate look at the creation of this unique project.
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Alexandra has dedicated herself to amplifying the voices of many of today’s most celebrated and diverse composers. Her championed repertoire includes artists such as Dobrinka Tabakova, Reena Esmail, Lera Auerbach, Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Anna Clyne, Jennifer Higdon, Clarice Assad, Carlos Simon, Mason Bates, Kevin Puts, and others.
She has appeared as a guest soloist with prestigious orchestras, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México, and Cape Town Philharmonic. Her most recent milestone was a debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Ravinia Festival, marking a significant highlight in her growing career.
During the pandemic, Alexandra started a podcast called Beethoven Was a Rockstar. In it, she explores the boundaries between classical and pop music, discovering where they lie—and breaking through them. The series has already garnered thousands of downloads from listeners around the world.
She is also featured in The Conductor, a documentary about her mentor Marin Alsop. The film premiered at Tribeca, where Alexandra opened the screening by conducting young female musicians from the New York Youth Symphony.
Alexandra Arrieche is reshaping the role of the modern conductor. Her work bridges tradition and transformation, opening new paths for collaboration, education, and inclusion. With every performance and initiative, she challenges outdated norms and reimagines what orchestras can be—creative spaces that reflect, inspire, and engage the communities they serve.