Women Conductors

Spotlighting Women Conductors

For generations, women have made extraordinary contributions to the world of conducting. Yet despite their talent and accomplishments, women conductors have often faced barriers to recognition and opportunity in a profession historically dominated by men.

Bandology is proud to spotlight the achievements of women conductors who have broken new ground, challenged expectations, and continue to inspire the next generation of musicians.

We hope this collection encourages students, educators, and music lovers to discover remarkable role models, celebrate their artistic contributions, and help build a more inclusive future for music. Representation matters, and by sharing these stories, we can inspire more young musicians to see themselves on the podium.

Women Conductor Spotlights

Meet some of the women conductors who have helped shape Canada’s musical landscape.

Lydia Adams

Lydia Adams is a Canadian conductor, educator, composer and advocate for Canadian choral music who has dedicated her career to the commissioning, performance and promotion of Canadian composers and artists. Hailed by the Canadian Music Centre as “the new leading exponent of the Canadian choral composer,” she serves as Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers, one of Canada’s foremost professional choirs, and was appointed director of the Western University Singers in 2016.

Originally from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Adams studied at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London, England. Throughout her distinguished career, she has conducted works by many of Canada’s leading composers, including Harry Somers, Srul Irving Glick, John Beckwith, Christos Hatzis and Stephen Chatman, and has guest conducted extensively across Canada and the United States. An innovative programmer, she has led more than 50 new choral commissions and recently conducted a tour of Pimooteewin: The Journey, the world’s first Cree opera by Tomson Highway and Melissa Hui.

Adams has received numerous honours recognizing her contributions to Canadian arts and culture, including honorary doctorates from Mount Allison University and Cape Breton University, the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition. In 2023, she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her distinguished contributions to music and culture in Canada.

Kathleen Allan

Kathleen Allan is a Canadian conductor, composer, soprano and educator who currently serves as Artistic Director of Chorus Niagara and the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, and teaches on the music faculty at the University of Toronto. Recognized for her versatility across early, contemporary and symphonic repertoire, she is in demand internationally as a guest conductor, clinician and commissioned composer.

Allan holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Music from Yale University. She previously served as Visiting Professor of Conducting at Western University.

Since becoming Artistic Director of the Amadeus Choir in 2019, Allan has led the ensemble in commissioning more than a dozen new works, founding the Choral Creation Lab for emerging composers and poets, and developing creative partnerships with diverse artists and ensembles across the Greater Toronto Area. From 2016 to 2023, she also served as Artistic Director of Canzona, Winnipeg’s professional Baroque choir, where she conducted major works of Baroque repertoire through historically informed performance practice.

Recent guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and Early Music Vancouver. In 2016, she received the Sir Ernest MacMillan Prize in Choral Conducting.

Teri Dunn

Teri Dunn is a Canadian soprano, conductor and music educator recognized for her leadership in choral and operatic performance, as well as her commitment to music education and youth artistry. A native of Ottawa, she currently serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, where she has led acclaimed productions including the world premieres of Alice Ho’s The Monkiest King and Serouj Kradjian’s The Nightingale of a Thousand Songs. She has also prepared children’s choruses and soloists for numerous Canadian Opera Company productions, including La Bohème, Carmen, The Magic Flute and Hansel and Gretel.

Dunn holds a Master of Music from the University of Toronto and was awarded the Leslie Bell Prize in Choral Conducting in 2002.

From 2008 to 2025, Dunn served as Dean of Choral Studies at St. Michael’s Choir School, overseeing programming and directing three internationally recognized choirs. Earlier in her career, she was Assistant Artistic Director of the Toronto Children’s Chorus and held teaching positions at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Hart House Chorus. She currently directs the Soprano-Alto Chorus at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music.

Dr. Danielle Gaudry

Conductor and educator Dr. Danielle Gaudry is the Director of Wind Studies at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University where she conducts the Wind Orchestra and the Chamber Winds, serves as an Associate Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement, and chairs the Performance Department. Prior to her appointment at McGill, she served for ten years as Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music at the California State University, East Bay.

Dr. Gaudry received her Bachelor of Music from McGill University, her Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, then a Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of Calgary. She then earned her Master of Music in Conducting from Pennsylvania State University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Gaudry taught high school instrumental music in Winnipeg for seven years, where she led her ensembles to great success, ranking among the top bands in the province of Manitoba. She also spent time serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, where she was the Director of Music for the Regimental Band of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles from 2002-2010, and taught conducting at the Canadian Forces Logistic Training Centre, Music Division. She later served as the Associate Conductor with the 38th Infantry Division Band, Indiana National Guard from 2010-2013. Dr. Gaudry focuses her research on topics of chamber wind ensemble repertoire and the history of early chamber wind ensembles. She serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the States and Canada.

Dr. Cynthia Johnston-Turner

Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner is a conductor, clinician and music educator who holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States. She currently serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. Previously, she was the Director of Bands at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Turner received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, her Master of Music in Music Education and Conducting at the University of Victoria and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Inspired by touring with ensembles, her master’s thesis was about the musical and personal transformations that occur on tours. Dr. Turner has earned numerous awards for her conducting and teaching, including the National Leadership in Education Award (the Reader’s Digest Foundation), the Excellence in Education Award (Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation) and was nominated for the Canadian Prime Minister’s Leadership in Teaching Award.

Dr. Turner has conducted the National Youth Band of Canada, the Syracuse Symphony and the Society for New Music Ensemble in Syracuse, NY, the Eastman School at the University of Rochester, the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Heredia in Costa Rica, the Latin America Honour Band, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Great Britain, the Paris Lodron Ensemble in Salzburg, Austria and numerous state honour bands. She presents her research on teaching and technology, research techniques and more both nationally and internationally. 

Dr. Gillian MacKay

Dr. Gillian MacKay is a Canadian trumpeter, conductor and educator. Originally from Prince Edward Island, she grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. Dr. MacKay is currently a Professor of Music at the University of Toronto, where she teaches conducting, orchestral instruments and trumpet as well as conducting the Wind Ensemble. She has an active career as a professional musician, conductor, adjudicator and clinician.

Dr. MacKay received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Lethbridge, her Master of Music from McGill University, and two doctorates from the University of Calgary and Northwestern University. Before arriving at the University of Toronto, she served as Director of the School of Music at the University of Windsor and Instructor of Brass at Medicine Hat College. She has conducted numerous ensembles throughout Canada and the United States – including the National Youth Band in 2001 – as well as judged competitions in the US, Singapore, Thailand and Korea. Dr. MacKay presents and guest instructs at clinics and workshops throughout Canada and the United States, including leading the University of Toronto’s Wind Conducting Symposium each July. She also adjudicates Canadian bands at local, provincial and national levels and is the Associate Conductor of the Denis Wick Canadian Concert Band. 

Focusing on the relationship between conducting and mime in her research, Dr. MacKay also investigates the use of acting techniques and movement into her conducting. Other areas of research include 19th century French trumpet and cornet repertoire, and 19th century French wind band repertoire.

Dr. Leah McGray

Dr. Leah McGray is a Canadian conductor, educator, clinician and adjudicator who currently serves as Conductor of the Wind Orchestra at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where she also teaches conducting and community music. Originally from Nova Scotia, she studied clarinet, violin and piano before discovering her passion for conducting wind and orchestral ensembles.

Dr. McGray received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from Acadia University, her Master of Music from the University of Toronto, and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from Northwestern University. She has guest conducted ensembles across North America and internationally, including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the 2023 National Youth Band of Canada, as well as honour bands and music programs in South Korea, California and Alaska.

Prior to joining Laurier, Dr. McGray was Director of Instrumental Studies at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She conducted their orchestras and wind ensembles while teaching conducting, musicianship and music theory. Before pursuing graduate studies, she taught instrumental music in schools throughout Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

An active presenter and researcher, her scholarship explores non-verbal leadership, collaborative conducting practices and wind ensemble repertoire by traditionally underrepresented composers. Twice awarded major Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) grants, Dr. McGray continues to present research and adjudicate throughout Canada, the United States and South Korea.

Tania Miller

Tania Miller is a Canadian conductor recognized internationally for her dynamic musicianship, innovative leadership and commitment to contemporary repertoire. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Brott Music Festival in Canada and the Artistic Director and Conductor of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and of Brott Opera. Miller has built a distinguished career leading orchestras and opera companies across North America, Europe and Asia.

Miller holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan and has received honorary degrees from Royal Roads University and the Royal Conservatory of Music for her leadership in music and arts education.

Recent engagements include debuts with the National Symphony of Mexico and the Warsaw Philharmonic, as well as performances with the Janáček Philharmonic, Vancouver Opera, Madison Symphony, Eugene Symphony and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared with ensembles including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Métropolitain de Montréal. Internationally, she has conducted the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) Symphony and Virtuoso Chamber Orchestra in South Korea and has toured extensively throughout Europe and North America.

Miller served as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony for fourteen seasons and was later named Music Director Emerita in recognition of her artistic leadership and contributions to the community. A passionate advocate for music education and contemporary composers, she received the 2017 Friends of Canadian Music Award from the Canadian League of Composers.

Dr. Charlene Pauls

Dr. Charlene Pauls is a Canadian choral conductor, soprano soloist, clinician, adjudicator and educator who has built a diverse career working with adult, university and youth choirs across Canada and internationally. Known for her holistic approach to choral music-making, Dr. Pauls is passionate about helping singers develop healthy, expressive and refined choral sound regardless of age.

Dr. Pauls holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts from McGill University and undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba.

Since 2019, she has served as Artistic Director of the Guelph Chamber Choir, leading innovative programming that spans major choral-orchestral repertoire, contemporary works and Canadian commissions. Under her leadership, the choir continues its commitment to fostering Canadian choral music through composer competitions, commissions and premieres. She is also Associate Artistic Director of the Oakville Choir for Children and Youth, where she directs the Chamber Voices ensemble and helps mentor young singers through leadership and performance opportunities.

Throughout her career, Dr. Pauls’ ensembles have earned national recognition, including awards at the CBC Amateur Canadian Choral Competition, gold medal standing at the World Choir Games in Latvia, and appearances at Podium, Canada’s national choral conference. In 2018, she received the Ontario Arts Council’s Leslie Bell Prize recognizing excellence in emerging conductors.

Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff

Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff is a Canadian choral conductor, educator, clinician and adjudicator who currently serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Music at Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts. She is also Artistic Director of the Avanti Chamber Singers and founder of the Niagara Choral Connections workshop series. Prior to joining Brock University, she spent eight years on faculty at McMaster University.

Dr. Rensink-Hoff holds Master of Music and Doctoral degrees in choral conducting and music education from Western University, a Bachelor of Music from Calvin University and has pursued additional studies through the Chorus America Conducting Academy and the Eastman School of Music Summer Conducting Institute.

A respected leader in Canada’s choral community, Dr. Rensink-Hoff was awarded the Ontario Arts Council’s Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting in 2014. Choirs under her direction have received numerous honours, including first prize at the 2015 National Choral Competition for Amateur Choirs and recognition for the Avanti Chamber Singers as “Most Promising New Adult Ensemble” in 2019. In 2022, she received the City of St. Catharines Arts in Education Award, followed by Brock University’s Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2024.

Dr. Rensink-Hoff maintains an active career as a guest conductor, adjudicator and presenter across Canada and internationally. She has conducted the Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Alberta Youth Choir and Ontario Youth Choir, and has presented at conferences for Choral Canada, the Ontario Music Educators’ Association and the American Choral Directors Association. Her research focuses on conductor mentorship and training, choral programming as well as the intersections of creativity and mental wellbeing.

Dr. Colleen Richardson

Dr. Colleen Richardson is a Canadian conductor, clinician, adjudicator and professor who is currently the Coordinator of Bands at Western University. She was born in Winnipeg and though she was not from a musical family, her music teachers throughout junior high and high school helped her develop a love for music making. Her main instrument was the saxophone and she loved being a part of her school’s jazz band, which was playing at an exceptional level for musicians their age.

Dr. Richardson received her Bachelor of Music Education from Brandon University, then her Masters of Music Conducting in Wind Conducting from the University of Calgary and her Doctorate in Wind Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. For over a decade, she was a music teacher in various schools throughout Manitoba and Calgary before deciding to return to academia. She worked at Converse College in South Carolina as an Assistant Professor of Music Education and the Wind Ensemble director, before joining the Western Faculty.

Dr. Richardson helped to develop Western’s Young Winds program, where undergraduate students have the chance to conduct an ensemble made up of local students. Dr. Richardson has guest conducted and presented research at conferences around the world, including Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan and throughout the USA. In 2018, she was awarded the Canadian Band Association (CBA) International Band Award. She has also served as the President Elect of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

Dr. Richardson believes in making rehearsals and music education engaging, that having effective and passionate music educators is the key for many students to create their love for music. It is this belief that pushes her to continue research on wind band literature, conducting pedagogy and rehearsal techniques. 

Dr. LeToya Webb

Dr. LaToya Webb is a conductor, educator and advocate for music education who currently serves as Visiting Professor in Music at Ball State University, where she conducts the wind ensemble and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting courses. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Webb discovered her passion for music through school band programs and has since built an internationally recognized career as a conductor, clinician and scholar.

Dr. Webb pursued her education at Norfolk State University, George Mason University and Auburn University, earning degrees in music education and conducting. Before joining Ball State University, Dr. Webb held faculty positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Texas at Austin, Auburn University and Grambling State University. She began her teaching career as a band director in Richmond Public Schools and at Somerset Prep Academy in Washington, D.C. She also serves on the conducting faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

An active guest conductor, adjudicator and lecturer, Dr. Webb has presented workshops and professional development sessions for organizations including National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Midwest Clinic, the College Music Society, the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces and numerous school districts throughout North America. Her scholarship focuses on conducting pedagogy, music education and equity in the arts, and includes publications in the Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music Magazine, as well as the co-authored book GO ON, Tell Your Story! Voices of Women Band Directors.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in music, Dr. Webb is co-founder of I See You: Affirming Representation in Music and serves on the Composer Project Advisory Board for United Sound, Inc.