Antonia Joy Wilson, Conductor

As First Prize Winner of the International Conducting Competition in Mexico, Antonia Joy Wilson is a professional conductor of international acclaim. Antonia was invited to perform for Claudio Abbado shortly after she had her 
professional conducting debut with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at the age of twenty-one. Then, Leonard Slatkin appointed Antonia as Exxon Affiliate Artists Conducting Assistant with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. 

Antonia recently conducted Buenos Aires Philharmonic at the world famous Teatro Colón. She is a regular guest conductor with Romanian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Academic Choir in Bucharest. Dr. Wilson has been invited to guest conduct with the Shanghai Opera House in China, and Sofia Philharmonic in the spring of 2006, as well as Pardubice Chamber Orchestra in Prague among others. Ms. Wilson has also guest conducted orchestras in Spain, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, India, 
and China in addition to many American orchestras.

Ms. Wilson is currently Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of Mostly Mahler Orchestra and Chorus in California and of Le Festivale Orchestra and Chorus which she created in Colorado. Antonia is also the Principal Guest 
Conductor of the San Francisco Sinfonietta. Recently, she was also Principal Resident Guest Conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra which included recordings, concerts, and tours throughout Europe. 

Dr. Wilson has been the Artistic/Music Director and Conductor of orchestras in Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, Maryland, and Tennessee among others. In addition to guest conducting many American orchestras, Antonia has been 
re-invited to guest conduct the Colorado Symphony Orchestra numerous times since her debut.

A Fellowship Conductor at Aspen Music Festival, Dr. Wilson was Assistant Conductor of Concert Orchestra and taught “Conducting for Composers.” Antonia has been honored as a top five finalist in three American Symphony Orchestra 
League Conducting Workshops. Following graduate conducting studies at Yale University, she completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Since her debut as the youngest woman to conduct a major American orchestra, Antonia Joy Wilson has gone on to extensive national and international guest conducting in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.


Reviews: 

As for the interpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Sheherazade’ offered by Antonia 
Joy Wilson, it was in fine style, it was a substantial and expressive version 
with Buenos Aires Philharmonic. Her success obliges us to consider her for new 
visits at Teatro Colón.” 


- La Nación, Argentina


“Revelry and emotion took control as dynamo Antonia Joy Wilson took the helm of 
the Imperial Symphony Orchestra for Mahler’s ‘First Symphony.’ Throughout, 
Wilson’s baton moved strongly and clearly. She showed a deft communication with 
the players, and this concert was a rousing success.” 

- The Ledger, FL


“During four years in which she challenged musicians and audiences to explore 
the art of Sibelius, Berlioz, Mozart, Mahler and others, Antonia Joy Wilson took 
the Livingston Symphony Orchestra into new worlds, frequently playing to full 
houses. She has left her mark on the musical expectations of her community as 
few do.” 
- West Essex Tribune, NJ


“Conducting the Colorado Symphony Orchestra without a score, her beat was 
precise and knowledgeable and it was obvious she prepared her material with 
loving care. I believe Ms.Wilson is headed for a notable career. She has 
persistence, personality, drive, and a blooming talent.” 



- The Denver Magazine, CO


“The real triumph of the evening went to Antonia Joy Wilson, who drew from the 
players a balance and a unity never before heard from our Johnson City Symphony 
Orchestra.
Nothing stirs the soul quite like the sounds of a symphony under an able baton. 
The Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Antonia Joy Wilson proved that 
once again. Antonia Joy Wilson was aptly named for she exudes seemingly endless 
joy in her work. Her joy was transmitted masterfully through the symphony, and 
in turn to the audience.” 


- Johnson City Press-Chronicle, TN


“Those who saw Ms. Wilson audition with Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra were 
impressed with what Jesse Rosen described as ‘her fast mind, her very persuasive 
way of conducting.’ He thinks that her style of conducting and her philosophical 
approach to music is much like Leonard Slatkin.” 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO

[BACK TO IOW BA]