Kate Tamarkin

Described by Leonard Bernstein as "extremely musical, a vivid personality, and a strong performer", Kate Tamarkin recently completed five years as Music Director of the Monterey Symphony (California), during which the orchestra increased its' artistic excellence and visibility. She has a distinguished national and international reputation as a conductor of orchestras at many levels: an Associate Conductor of the Dallas Symphony under Eduardo Mata; as music director and conductor of the East Texas Symphony, the Vermont Symphony and several other ensembles. Ms. Tamarkin has guest conducted some of world's leading orchestras and has been profiled on CNN and NBC's Today Show.

Ms. Tamarkin's recent conducting engagements include debuts with both the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (China), and the Summer Opera Theatre Company in Washington, DC. Highlights of recent seasons have included performances with the Edmonton Symphony (Edmonton, Canada), the Vermont Symphony, the Carolina Chamber Symphony, and the National Philharmonic of Moldova. Her guest conducting credits include a command performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; engagements with the symphonies of Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, St. Louis, Pacific, Nashville, New Mexico, Quad Cities, Tucson, Dallas, Oklahoma City, El Paso, Billings and Fresno; Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival and the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina.

Kate Tamarkin holds a DMA from Peabody Conservatory of Music, a Masters of Music from Northwestern University, and a Bachelors of Music Education from Chapman University (CA); she comes to the University of Virginia from the Catholic University of America, where she has been an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras and Opera.