103. Dr. Tamara Dworetz: Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Presence

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

🎙️ Episode 103 — Dr. Tamara Dworetz: Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Presence

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Dr. Tamara Dworetz, a dynamic American conductor whose passion for music, education, and storytelling is evident in every note she leads. Tamara shares her incredible journey—from her beginnings in the Atlanta public school system to conducting major orchestras.

🎧 Listen now to hear Dr. Dworetz’s thoughts on artistry, and the evolving role of the modern conductor.

—BIOGRAPHY —

American conductor Tamara Dworetz is driven by her belief in the power of classical music to inspire, spread joy and enrich the human experience. Dworetz's 2025-26 season includes debuts with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestra of Northwest Arkansas (SONA). Her 2024-25 season includes debuts with the Cincinnati Symphony, Atlanta Ballet (The Rite of Spring & The Nutcracker), Sarasota Orchestra and Boulder Philharmonic. She was one of three conductors selected to participate in Leonard Slatkin's 80th Birthday Celebration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Tamara is the Artistic Director & Conductor of the Georgia Philharmonic, which performs five subscription concerts a year, in addition to special events like World Wrestling Entertainment, DragonCon & Gospel Goes Classical. Recently, Tamara conducted her first staged opera, Bizet's Carmen.

Tamara is featured in a Netflix documentary called 'Maestra', directed by Maggie Contreras and produced by David Letterman. The film centers around 5 conducting participants in the 2022 La Maestra Conducting Competition and Academy for Women Conductors in Paris, France and has been highlighted by the NY Times, LA Times, CBS National News as well as international film festivals, including Tribeca, where it was premiered. In the 2022 competition, Tamara was the only US-born conductor and earned a spot as one of 6 semi-finalists.

A devoted music educator, Tamara’s musical beginnings took place in the Atlanta public school system and she is passionate about fostering enriching musical experiences for K-12 and pre-professional musicians. Tamara is Director of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University and Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor in Instrumental Music. She has served guest conducting residencies at University of Texas Butler School of Music, Boston University School of Music, SUNY Fredonia School of Music, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra at Bard College. She has guest conducted All-State Orchestras in Texas, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Georgia and Washington (All-Northwest) and worked with the Atlanta, Austin, Emory and Boston Youth Orchestras as well as the Atlanta Music Project. She has led conducting workshops for music educators (GMEA Conference) as well as with young musicians (ASO TDP program).

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