Detroit Symphony Orchestra Appoints New Assistant Conductor

Australian-born conductor Ingrid Martin will start in the 2025/26 season

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) announced Ingrid Martin as its new assistant conductor and Phillip and Lauren Fisher Community Ambassador for the upcoming concert season. 

Martin will also become music director of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra; she will succeed Na’Zir McFadden, who has served all three roles since 2022. 

Recently, Martin was the first Australian admitted to the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship Mentoring Program. She was also a fellow of the Australian Conducting Academy and the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship with the Orchestra of the Americas. 

A frequent guest conductor across Australia and New Zealand, she has performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, Auckland Philharmonia, as well as the Christchurch, Queensland, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, following her 2024 tenure as NZ assistant conductor in residence. She also leads the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Conductor Training Program. 

She has commissioned 15 works for youth orchestras, conducted 20 world premieres, and recorded over 50 student compositions. Additionally, her book Planning Effective Rehearsals is part of several university music education programs worldwide. Before pursuing conducting, Martin worked for a decade in emergency medicine, then retrained as a teacher. 

At the DSO, Martin will work closely with Music Director Jader Bignamini and guest conductors on various concert series. She will also lead pre-concert lectures and conduct a variety of programs and community events. 

“I am very happy to welcome Ingrid Martin to the DSO,” Bignamini said. “Ingrid brings a unique blend of energy, curiosity, and heartfelt connection to her music-making, and I know our musicians and audiences will feel that right away. I look forward to working together as she shares her artistry with our orchestra and community.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to join the [DSO],” Martin shared. “From the beginning, I felt a deep alignment with the DSO’s mission and values. I am inspired by the artistry of Music Director Jader Bignamini and the musicians here in Detroit, and excited to contribute to the city’s rich musical legacy.

“Leading the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra is an incredible opportunity to support and challenge the next generation of students,” she added. “I believe in creating joyful, meaningful musical experiences that help young artists grow not only as players, but as people. I can’t wait to begin this journey with the talented students of the DSYO.”