Valentina Peleggi
Valentina Peleggi is Music Director of the Richmond Symphony. Described by the BBC Music Magazine as a “rising star,” Valentina has led orchestras from around the world, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, Naxos released her first CD, Villa-Lobos choral arrangements with the São Paulo Symphony Chorus, in a new edition guest edited by Valentina.
Originally from Florence, Valentina was the first Italian woman to enter the conducting program at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and from 2015 to 2017 held a Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship under Marin Alsop. Currently Guest Music Director with the Theatro São Pedro in São Paulo, Brazil, Valentina was Mackerras Fellow with the English National Opera from 2018 to 2020 and previously served as Resident Conductor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of their professional symphonic chorus.
“It is an honor for me and a great joy to join the jury of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021, a unique opportunity to share the extraordinary talent of these young artists while creating bridges across cultures. I feel honored to represent the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond community, and I am very much looking forward to meeting the next generation of violinists and to celebrate excellence through the beauty of music.”