Czech conductor Alena Hron has received the award alongside a $25,000 honorarium 

The Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship (TACF) was founded by Marin Alsop in 2003 to promote gender diversity in music and support women pursuing conducting careers.

Following over 150 applications from conductors across 42 countries, Alena Hron of the Czech Republic has been selected as the TACF’s 2024-26 Fellow.

Her two-year award will include intensive coaching and mentoring with Alsop and other industry professionals, as well as an honorarium of $25,000.

Other awards were distributed on a merit basis, including the TACF Associate Fellowship, which went to Greek conductor Nefeli Chadouli. Four other Award Recipients include Jessica Altarriba from Cuba, Hannah Howard Andresen of Denmark, Micah Gleason from America, and Karen Ní Bhroin from Ireland.

In addition to Alsop and the TACF staff, other acclaimed conductors and industry leaders were also part of assessing the finalists for the awards’ selection process.

A graduate of the Prague Conservatory, Hron has led ensembles such as the Prague Chamber Philharmonic, Hradec Králové Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Zlín, and Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. 

“Being selected as a Fellow is like a dream come true,” Hron expressed in a press release. “It’s a great honor for me to be given this new opportunity, to be coached by more experienced colleagues, as well as by Marin Alsop! 

“I love that this organization is creating a network of women conductors from all over the world who can share their experiences and support each other,” she continued. “Music is about sharing and bringing people together, and I hope that through the TACF I will be able to contribute to that.”

“As we enter our 22nd year, it gives me enormous pride to announce a new cohort of Fellows and Award Recipients,” Alsop added. “The skill level of our applicants is inspiring, giving me great hope for the future of women in this field. 

“These emerging conductors have such talent, curiosity, creativity, and promise — I can’t wait to see how they flourish,” she added. “I’m gratified that the community we’re creating through this fellowship is, in turn, creating more opportunities for women on podiums around the world. This is the kind of growth in the field we’ve been hoping for.”

The TACF now assists over 60 conductors from 23 countries. Its conductors hold 22 music director or chief conductor positions at international orchestras and have launched initiatives and programs of their own.

For more on the TACF and its recipients, click here.