Rachael Worby

Rachael Worby is distinguished as a visionary in the orchestral world, and celebrated internationally for her extraordinary talents, exuberant style, and versatile command of all musical genres.

She has led orchestras throughout the world, including the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra in England, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Transylvania Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony, the Herzliya Chamber Orchestra in Israel, the China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, where she accompanied American soprano Jessye Norman, in her first appearances in mainland China. Ms. Worby has since accompanied Ms. Norman in her orchestral concert appearances throughout the world.

As Music Director of The Pasadena POPS, Ms. Worby has expanded the orchestra’s performance season, as well as its national and local profiles. She has quadrupled the number of yearly concerts played, developed new programs, dramatically increased audience attendance, and secured dynamic corporate sponsorship. Ms. Worby has also expanded the institution’s outreach programs to underserved communities, securing significant ongoing funding for programs in South Central Los Angeles and Pasadena. Ms. Worby is also Artistic Director and Conductor of the American Music Festival in Cluj, Romania, and Laureate Conductor of the Wheeling West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Among her other numerous awards, Ms. Worby has been honored with the Spirit of Achievement from Albert Einstein College, the Women of Excellence Award from the YWCA, a Doctor of Humanities from Marshall University, and a Doctor of Letters and the Presidential Medal of Honor for her consummate lifetime achievements from Claremont University.

In 1994, Ms. Worby received a presidential appointment to the National Council of the Arts, and in 1990 was nominated for an ACE Award for programs she created, narrated, and conducted for the Disney Channel.

Previous posts include music director and conductor of the Young People Concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City (1984–1996) and assistant conductor to the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1984–1987).