Conductor and HIWC Alumna & Faculty – The Dallas Opera
Praised for “inspiring virtuosic achievements from the pit” (Opera Today) and “palpable happiness” (Le Monde) from the artists with whom she collaborates, Elizabeth Askren empowers musicians around the world as a conductor, educator, and cultural activist with a passion for synergy.
Recent and upcoming seasons include mainstage debuts with The Dallas Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opéra de Dijon, New Orleans Opera, Portland Opera, and Hawai’i Opera Theatre. Askren is the Music Director of Paola Prestini and Brenda Shaughnessey’s Sensorium Ex, a project that explores issues at the intersection of AI, disability, and the human voice.
A master teacher at both The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors and at the Paris Opera’s Academy, Askren made history by judging the Paris Philharmonic’s inaugural La Maestra Competition for Women Conductors alongside her mentor, Marin Alsop. She offers an innovative online masterclass series drawing on the full breadth of her practical experience and pedagogy. Askren is also the creator and host of the children’s edutainment series MaestraMagic!