Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentina Paolucci.
Hi Valentina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started playing violin when I was five years old through a public school string program. I continued playing throughout middle and high school while attending arts schools, and eventually earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Miami, where I studied with Charles Castleman.
In my high school orchestras, we played so much repertoire that I practically worked my way through the entire standard orchestral canon before I even turned 18. While performing Beethoven’s Eroica and Pastoral Symphonies, I started feeling a strong desire to understand the music on a deeper level. I became obsessed with scores, studying composers, and constantly being aware of everything happening around me while playing in orchestra rehearsals.
In 2019, I was fortunate to tour Europe with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States under the baton of Antonio Pappano, where we performed at the BBC Proms, the Concertgebouw, the Elbphilharmonie, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Edinburgh International Festival, Tanglewood, and Carnegie Hall. It was my first taste of music-making at that level, and it completely changed my life. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to pursuing that same level of artistry and connection.
There was always a small voice in my head telling me to explore orchestral conducting, since I was 15, but I would quickly shut it down. I just simply never saw a conductor who looked like me so I didn’t even think it was possible.
It wasn’t until about 5 years later when I finally decided to go all in. During the pandemic, I spent every single hour of the day studying scores, reading, and learning as much as I could about music and conducting. When I returned to school in Miami, I founded my own orchestra, where my incredibly generous colleagues volunteered their time to play for me while I gained experience on the podium. In return, I paid them back with homemade Argentine empanadas.
I recorded those sessions and began sending them to conducting pedagogues, masterclasses, and conducting programs. One opportunity led to another, eventually resulting in acceptance to conducting master’s programs. In 2023, I received a full scholarship to study orchestral conducting at The Juilliard School with David Robertson where I studied my master’s degree.
During my time at Juilliard, I was extremely grateful to receive a tremendous amount of podium time. I was conducting and rehearsing orchestras several times a week, and basically had my head in a score 24/7. I don’t think I have ever learned so much in such a short period of time and I miss it deeply.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all—and if you ask any other conductor, you’ll hear the same answer.
Conducting is an incredibly difficult career to navigate, so you have to learn how to manage a lot of pressure while maintaining focus and composure on the podium.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned came from my teacher at Juilliard, David Robertson. He told us that conductors are like ducks; above the surface, they glide smoothly across the water, but underneath they are paddling furiously.
As a young woman conductor, I feel an added pressure to be exceptionally prepared. Whether that pressure is real or self-imposed, I know that I have to work harder in order to prove I belong on the podium. Over time, I’ve learned to channel that feeling into preparation rather than insecurity, because at the end of the day, ears have no gender!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an orchestral conductor and am currently based in New York City, living the chaotic artist’s life. I am a Conducting Fellow with the Chelsea Symphony and the Music Director of the NYO-USA Alumni Orchestra, which rehearses and performs regularly in Carnegie Hall. I also recently had amazing opportunities to assist different conductors and orchestras, including Gustavo Dudamel with the New York Philharmonic, where he is soon starting his new Music Director position! I have conducted in countries including China, Germany, Bulgaria, Panama, Finland, and the United States, working with all sorts of orchestras. I love the traveling aspect of this career, as I have gotten to make special connections so many incredible people all around the world through music.
I think part of what helps me connect with musicians from so many different backgrounds is that I come from a very multicultural family myself. I was born in Argentina, my father is from Italy, and my mother is half Argentinian and half German. Although we moved to South Florida when I was little, my household was a blend of very different cultures and there were four languages being spoken around me at all times. A family member of mine in Italy once told me “the more languages you know, the more people you are”, so being raised in that crazy environment taught me from a young age how to relate to all kinds of people. Conducting is ultimately about communication, and every orchestra has its own culture and personality, just like a family.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
This was one of the hardest things for me to learn.
For years I found the idea of “networking” intimidating. The word itself scared me until someone explained to me that networking is simply interacting with people and exchanging information. Framing it that way completely changed my perspective because I genuinely love meeting people and learning from them. There is something we can learn from everyone, and as conductors, the world is our classroom. Our job is ultimately about understanding people, communication, and collaboration. The more curious and humble we are, the more we can learn from the people around us.
Another important aspect of networking is the giving part. We should be equally eager to help those around us without expecting anything in return. This industry is already tough enough as it is, so we should be willing to help those around us and make this world a better place!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valentinapaolucciconductor.com
- Instagram: valentina.p.music
