When Stephanie Childress steps onto the podium this spring at Powell Hall, she will begin her tenure as assistant conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The 21-year-old has already received many accolades—second prize at the inaugural conducting competition La Maestra among them—but considers conducting the SLSO for her audition to be one of the top musical experiences of her life.
“I did the first downbeat to the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, and the sound jumped back at me,” she says. “It was full of warm emotion. It was charged. It was intense.”
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Childress auditioned just before the pandemic began, so she’s had some time to think about and prepare for her new role. She spoke to us from her flat in London about her background as a musician and what she hopes to learn from working alongside music director Stéphane Denève.
How did you get started in classical music?
I don’t come from a musical family. We listen to a lot of non-classical music like Queen and Tina Turner, but my parents are very open-minded when it comes to music, and they would take me to classical music concerts.
At the age of 4, I went to a concert by Nigel Kennedy, a famous violinist, and I was mesmerized and started asking for violin lessons. Something about that performance ignited something in me.
I started with the piano because my mom wanted to make sure that music was something that I would actually enjoy, but a couple of months later I asked her where my violin was.
When did you know that you wanted to be a conductor?
For a long time, pursuing music as a profession was the last thing on my mind. I wanted to be an architect or a translator or even a spy. I was obsessed with James Bond when I was younger. Music was always just a serious hobby. That changed when I started playing in youth orchestras. I was in the National Youth Orchestra for three years, and I started looking up to the conductor. I thought, This is an interesting role. You’ve got to inspire a roomful of individuals to come with you in whatever interpretation you’ve managed to achieve within yourself, and then bring it to an audience. I just found it really fascinating.
Once you realized this, how did you get started?
I asked one of the conductors that I was working with if I could come and watch some rehearsals. He kindly let me, so I was this 13-year-old sitting in rehearsals for the English National Opera. That’s how I got hooked.
What excites you about your new position with the SLSO?
I look forward to working with Stéphane. He’s an amazing conductor, and we’ve gotten to know each other over Skype calls the last few months. We share a passion for French music, and I’m excited to learn from him in that respect.
I also am looking forward to working with the musicians. When I went to my audition, I walked in with an open mind. I didn’t Google too much about them because I would have been pretty nervous, but they are quite an illustrious bunch.
And you will be the new director of the youth orchestra?
I learned so much being in youth orchestra. I want to help them become a unified group like an orchestra, and I want them to explore new repertoire and refine their skills with classic standard repertoire. I’m really looking forward to working with the young people.
And you’ll be playing your violin with the symphony later this season?
Yes! I’m really lucky because they want me to play the violin for them, which I think is incredibly brave of them.
