Sonia Ben-Santamaria
Musical Director

A trailblazer in her field, Sonia Ben-Santamaria made history as the first female conductor appointed as a Link Artist with the Royal Ballet & Opera House Jette Parkers programme. She later became the first Associate Conductor of Opera North – a landmark in the evolving representation of women in classical music in the UK and was chosen to be one of the six female conductors worldwide invited to The Dallas Opera House Hart Institut.

Named Rising Star of Classical Music by the BBC Opera magazine, following her conducting of Verdi’s Un Ballo in maschera for Opera Holland Park, the French conductor has a deep-rooted passion for opera, stemming from her first career as a repetiteur and vocal coach.

Sonia’s guesting conducting highlights include leading, among others: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de Lille, Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier and the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. This season Sonia will return to Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier to conduct the opera world premiere of Hotel Moctezuma and make her debut with the Orchestre National de Metz.

▸soniabensantamaria.com ▸@bensantamariasonia

Guest conductor

As part of LGSO’s artistic plans, we will also continue to welcome guest conductors from time to time. We’re thrilled to share that Sam Scheer will take the podium as guest conductor for the April 2027 concert.