Joana Carneiro

Joana Carneiro has attracted considerable attention as one of the most outstanding young conductors working today. In 2009, she was named Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony, succeeding Kent Nagano and becoming only the third music director in the 40-year history of the orchestra. She also currently serves as official guest conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra, working with the orchestra at least four weeks every year.

2013-14 marks Carneiro’s fifth season as Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony, where she has captivated audiences with her commanding stage presence and adventurous programming that has highlighted the works of several prominent contemporary composers, including John Adams, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Gabriela Lena Frank. The 2013-2014 Berkeley season features world premieres by Edmund Campion and Samuel Carl Adams, as well as works by Brett Dean, Kaija Saariaho and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Carneiro’s growing guest-conducting career continues to bring her all around the globe. In 2013-14, she makes debuts with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Florida Orchestra. She returns to the Toronto, Gothenburg, Gävle, Malmö, Sydney, New Zealand symphonies and the National Symphony Orchestra of Spain.