Groundbreaking conductor, Tara Simoncic, was the first woman to conduct the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the company’s 85-year history. She is known for her unique connection with musicians and audience members, bringing passion, warmth, and clarity to every performance. A recent review from La Jornada stated, “Tara Simoncic rose to greatness on the podium. She demonstrated why she is one of the most sought-after orchestral conductors of her generation.” Comfortable in all genres, she works with prominent ballet and opera companies and symphony orchestras worldwide.
Ms. Simoncic is one of the top ballet conductors regularly appearing with the world’s most renowned companies. In 2016, she made her debut with the New York City Ballet conducting Balanchine’s Nutcracker. Since then, she stepped in at the last minute to conduct the world premiere of Standard Deviation at Lincoln Center in 2023. She also toured twice with the NYC Ballet to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Last season, she conducted performances of The Four Temperaments, Ballo della Regina, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Jewels.
She has been the conductor of the Flexible Orchestra, a contemporary ensemble in New York City, since 2003 where she works closely with composers to champion new works specifically written for the group. She has recently guest conducted the Portland Symphony, the Bridge Musik Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Nova at The Manhattan School of Music, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México.
Some highlights of her career include conducting an innovative and interactive production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia at SNG Maribor and Don Giovanni at the Castello di San Giusto with the Piccolo Festival del Friuli Venezia Giulia. In her role as Music Director of the Louisville Ballet, she worked on a joint project with the Kentucky Opera and the ballet to bring Gounod’s Faust to the stage in a provocative new production.
Ms. Simoncic is currently in her sixth season as Music Director of the Louisville Ballet. This fall will mark her third season conducting one of New York City’s most beloved modern dance companies, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Lincoln Center. She has served as Music Director of Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah and has been a recurring guest conductor with the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Teatro Colón’s Ballet Estable, Cincinnati Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and the Compañia Nacional de Danza in Madrid.
This season, she is thrilled to make debuts with the Joffrey Ballet, Orquestra Jovem do Estado of São Paulo, and the Houston Ballet.
Ms. Simoncic has a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the New England Conservatory, a Master’s of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University, and a Professional Studies Diploma in Orchestral Conducting from the Manhattan School of Music. In 2011, she received the Bruno Walter Scholarship Award to study with Marin Alsop at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Her teachers include Victor Yampolsky, Zdenek Macal, George Hurst, and Iloh Yang.
With the Orchestra of St. Luke's
Lincoln Center Season
Sprindrifft
Arabesque
Airs
Last Look
Cloven Kingdom
With the Rochester Philharmonic
The Nutcracker
With the Louisville Orchestra
The Nutcracker
With the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
The Nutcracker
With the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
Notes on Love
Mixed Rep Program
Modern Elegies
Serenade - Tchaikovsky/Balanchine
Petite Mort - Mozart/Kylián
World Premier - K. Richter/Dawson