Taki Alsop Fellowship expands its global conducting network
The Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship (TACF) has announced its 2026–28 cohort, naming Chi-Yuan Lin as Fellow and Michelle Di Russo as Associate Fellow, alongside Award Recipients Joséphine Korda, Polina Lebedieva, Ziwei Ma and Molly Turner. The selections were made from nearly 150 applicants representing 41 nationalities.
The two-year Fellowship offers intensive mentoring and professional development with TACF founder Marin Alsop, alongside coaching from leading industry professionals. Founded in 2002, the programme has supported 42 women conductors to date, with a further 50 participating through the Mentoring Programme launched in 2022 and supported by the Sherman Family Foundation.
For the 2026–28 cycle, TACF has confirmed new and continuing partnerships with orchestras in the United States, Europe and South Africa, expanding professional opportunities across its international network. The Reno Phil will launch the annual McConnell Conducting Fellowship, selecting fellows from the TACF community. The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will offer conducting residencies for TACF artists, while the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) will continue its long-standing collaboration, including guest conducting opportunities and participation in annual masterclasses led by Alsop.
Through its Fellowship, awards and mentoring strands, TACF aims to support women conductors at multiple stages of their careers while building a global professional community.
