Marin Alsop is the first woman Chief conductor

63 year old Marin Alsop from the US is the first woman conductor for the Vienna ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra. It celebrates it’s 50th  anniversary and will mark the celebrations with a concert conducted by Marin. Globally only four percent of conductors are women.

Marin who described her welcome to Vienna as very warm was previously the Chief conductor of Orchestras in Britain, Baltimore and Sao Paulo. Even though more than half of Vienna’s music students are female, it is still a rare sight to see women conducting concerts. Patricio Canete Schreger who is the head of music at the city councils culture department is convinced that Marin’s presence will speed up a change in the sector.