Beatrice Jona Affron joined Philadelphia Ballet (formerly Pennsylvania Ballet) as assistant conductor in 1993. Four years later, she became the company’s music director. In Philadelphia Beatrice has conducted many works by George Balanchine and a large repertoire of full-length works, including Giselle, The Firebird, Romeo and Juliet, and The Sleeping Beauty. In 2004, she led the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake.

Born and raised in New York City and a graduate of Yale University, Beatrice studied conducting with Robert Spano and with Pascal Verrot at the New England Conservatory, where she later served on the faculty. She led the national tour of Philip Glass’s  Les Enfants Terribles and received international attention while conducting the world premiere of Glass’s Galileo Galilei.

Beatrice has conducted for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, Glimmerglass Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and New England Conservatory. She has conducted dance and opera productions at the Boston Conservatory, as well as concerts with Boston’s Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. With Philadelphia Ballet, Beatrice has performed at the Kennedy Center, New York City Center, and the National Arts Center of Canada.  She has appeared as a guest conductor with Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet.

Photo credit: Liza Voll