Last month I had the amazing opportunity and experience of performing at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony in Davos, Switzerland.
First I travelled to London for rehearsals at the Royal Academy of Music with the all-women Taki Concordia Orchestra, under the baton of Conductor Marin Alsop. Alsop was mentored by legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein and is now one of the top conductors in the world. She was the first female conductor to conduct BBC’s Last Night of the Proms and is currently music director of Sao Paolo Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, making her the first female director of a major U.S. orchestra.
In Davos, Alsop received a World Economic Forum 2019 Crystal Award. The Crystal Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of leading artists and cultural figures whose leadership inspires inclusive and sustainable change. Marin is one of three recipients of the 2019 award, alongside history-making filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour and celebrated broadcaster and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough.
Our opening ceremony performance included music by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, a Mozart Concerto featuring solo violinist 13 year old Clara Shen, winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Competition, and a world premiere by English composer Anna Clyne. The performance is available to view online. I was honoured and delighted to be invited to join this unique orchestra for such an important performance.
Valerie Gunning 