The Challenge
Women running Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. reached a record high of 11.6% in 2025. As of January 1, 2025, women held only 27.2% of seats in national parliaments and their representation in local governments stagnated at 35.5% in 2023 and 2024; 107 countries have never had a woman Head of State. Only 10 percent of the worldโs music directors are women, an orchestraโs top conducting job, barely up from 8.5 percent reported in 2006.
Only 10% of the world’s Music Directors are women.
The Response
In 1984, after hearing โgirls canโt do thatโ and being rejected from conducting programs, Marin Alsop took her conducting career into her own hands and started a professional orchestra in New York City, the Concordia Orchestra. With the financial support of Tomio Taki, the Concordia Orchestra performed under the baton of Marin Alsop for 18 years. As Marinโs career took off and she began conducting around the world, Mr. Taki asked, โwhat about the other women conductors?โ With Mr. Takiโs commitment to fostering talented women through active mentorship and Marinโs entrepreneurial spirit, the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship was created in 2002. In recognition of the historic achievements of its Founder and President, the Fellowship was renamed the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship (TACF) in 2019.
Over the past 24 years, the fellowship has provided intensive coaching, mentorship and financial support to women conductors as they progress in their careers. Today, all 42 award winners are working to ensure a more equitable future for classical music through their artistry and advocacy, and among them they hold 25 Music Director or chief conductor positions of orchestras around the world.ย They are mentoring the next generation of women conductors through the TACF Mentoring Program which has mentored 50 additional conductors. See more about the Mentoring program here.
It is a privilege to be in a position to impact the lives of aspiring women conductors. I can clearly see what is needed to assist emerging conductors in the pursuit of their dreams and want to make the road easier and more rewarding for them. I have never ascribed to the philosophy that, โIt was tough for me so it will be tough for you.โ My philosophy is: โIt was tough for me so that I could make it easier forย you.’
About The Fellowship
Learn how to apply.
The Taki Fellowship is a two-year award that includes intensive coaching and mentoring with Marin Alsop and other music industry professionals. The TACF honorarium for Fellows is $30,000 over two years; other awards are distributed on a merit basis. Since 2003, forty-two women conductors have been chosen to participate in the program. The TACF Mentoring Program was established in 2022 and has added 50 additional women conductors toย theย TACF.
Learn about our Staff, Board, Advisory Council, and Women Leadership Council.
Mentoring Program
In 2022, the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship launched its Mentoring Program which provides 10 free mentoring sessions with TACF alumni.ย Initially funded by AT&T, the program has since accepted 50 conductors and continues to expand with the generous support of the Sherman Family Foundation.
Travel Fund –ย in 2026, a travel fund was established to provide in-person mentoring opportunities.
Laura Jackson, 2004 Fellow and Michelle Rofrano, 2023 Mentee
Artistic Partners
The TACF solidifies exciting partnerships with multiple international orchestras that will provide additional opportunities for the TACF network of conductors. These orchestras are: the Reno Philharmonic in Reno, NV; the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa; and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice,ย Poland.
The Reno Phil
Laura Jackson, Music Director
The Reno Phil, with support from Charlotte and Dick McConnell launches the annual McConnell Conducting Fellowship in the 2026-27 season. In partnership with the TACF, the Reno Phil will choose some of its fellows each year from the Taki community; additional details to be announced. โThe Reno Phil is proud to partner with the Taki Alsop Fellowship to expand opportunities for emerging conductors,โ said Reno Phil Music Director Laura Jackson, the TACF 2004 Fellow. โMarin Alsopโs mentorship and the strength of the Taki community have played a meaningful role in my own journey. Itโs deeply important to me to use my work at the Reno Phil to help support and elevate the next generation.โ
KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra
and the
Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive & Artistic Director
To demonstrate their commitment to this new partnership with TACF, the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, two leading South African orchestras, will offer conducting residencies for TACF conductors. โThe KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestras are proud to meaningfully contribute to the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, which fosters talented women conductors through active mentorship,โ said Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of both orchestras.
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR)
Marin Alsop, Artistic Director & Chief Conductor
TACF and NOSPR โ where Alsop serves as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor โ have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration going back several seasons; the orchestra has hired numerous TACF alumnae for guest conducting engagements, and invites two TACF conductors each eason to participate in its annual week of masterclasses, led by Alsop.
About Marin Alsop
Marin Alsop is one of the foremost conductors of our time and a powerful and inspiring voice. She is the first woman to serve as the head of major orchestras in the United States, South America, Austria, and Great Britain. A โformidable musician and a powerful communicator,โ and a โconductor with a visionโ (New York Times), Alsop is internationally recognized for her innovative approach to programming and audience development, for her deep commitment to education, and for championing the importance of music in the world. She is also the first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.
The 2025-26 season marks Alsopโs third as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony; her third as Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra; and her second as Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. She is also Chief Conductor of the Ravinia Festival, where she leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestraโs annual summer residencies.
Building on her long association with Carnegie Hall, Alsop is a Perspectives artist across 2025-26. She joins an elite group of top performers across disciplines who share their philosophies through a curated series of events. Alsopโs expansive series invites the Philharmonia Orchestra with soloist Alexandre Kantorow; as well as America at 250 programs with The Philadelphia Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, and with The Juilliard Orchestra, she leads an evening featuring a world premiere by Joan Tower. Alsop undertakes additional education projects in connection with Weill Music Institute.
