Delaware Symphony Appoints New Music Director

Conductor Michelle Di Russo will begin her tenure as of the 2025/26 season

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra has welcomed the Argentinian-Italian conductor Michelle Di Russo as its sixth music director in its 119-year history. Currently Music Director Designate, she will begin her tenure in the 2025/26 concert season.

Previously, she served as Associate Conductor with the North Carolina Symphony and Interim Director of Orchestras at Cornell University. In 2024, she was appointed Associate Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony, where she leads over 50 concerts annually. 

As a guest conductor, she has led the LA Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Portland Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic, and Toledo Ballet. She has also been a cover conductor for the St. Louis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and National Symphony. 

A Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award recipient and conducting fellow at the Aspen Music Festival, Di Russo's past achievements include being a Dudamel Fellow, a Taki Alsop Fellow, and a fellow of the Chicago Sinfonietta program and The Dallas Opera Hart Institute. She also assisted Sir Simon Rattle, Klaus Mäkelä, and Lahav Shani at the Verbier Festival last summer. 

Currently, she is part of the Roche Young Commissions at the Lucerne Festival Academy and will be leading Suor Angelica at the Prague Summer Nights Festival. 

“It is with great joy and deep gratitude that I step into the role of Music Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra,” Di Russo said. “From the first time I conducted the orchestra, I knew there was a special connection between us, and the audience was crucial in bringing a one-of-a-kind electricity to our performances. 

“I am inspired not only by the extraordinary talent of the musicians, but also by the passion and dedication of the entire DSO team — from the visionary leadership of the board and CEO J.C. Barker, to the tireless work of the staff who make it all possible behind the scenes,” she continued. “This orchestra is a cultural treasure of Delaware with limitless potential, and I’m honored to have been entrusted with its future. I believe in music that moves us, challenges us, and brings us closer together — and I can’t wait to embark on this journey with the DSO and our vibrant Delaware community.”