Anna-Maria Gkouni makes history as the Conroe Symphony Orchestra's first female conductor

Anna-Maria Gkouni is the first female conductor and music director of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra in Texas, USA.

"To lead the Conroe Symphony Orchestra is a dream come true," Gkouni said.

Anna-Maria Gkouni is a Greek orchestral conductor, pianist, and piano instructor. Her musical interests cover a span of genres, from classical to jazz and traditional music to more electronic and progressive sounds.

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct this exceptionally talented group of musicians. My greatest aspiration for the future is to create innovative shows that will combine multiple forms of art such as theatre, which is my second passion. We are all very much looking forward to bringing music back to the city of Conroe," she added.

A native of Athens, she holds a piano performance and a music theory degree from Philippos Nakas Conservatory.

After graduating with her BA from Ionian University in Corfu island, Gkouni moved to Nebraska to pursue her MA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Houston.

Gkouni has attended masterclasses with international pianists and conductors, such as pianist Lucas Debargue and conductor of Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart.

Among her awards are the Schissler Foundation Fellowship, the University of Houston Graduate Tuition Fellowship, and the Hellenic Professional Society of Texas Award.

"She's precisely the fresh new talent that is needed to take the Conroe Symphony Orchestra in a bold new direction. As Board members our desire is to create experiential new works of art that help expand the reach of the orchestra. I believe that Anna-Maria will take us there," said Dr. Don Hutson, who led the search for the new conductor.

*More on GCT: The full Greek National anthem, Hymn to Liberty, was performed live for the first time in Australian history, in a symphonic arrangement led by the acclaimed conductor George Ellis.