California-born conductor Rebecca Miller has earned an international reputation for her compelling, insightful, and energetic presence on the podium and for her ability to communicate with audiences of all ages. Recent guest-conducting includes the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Västerås Sinfonietta, DalaSinfoniettan, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, The Orchestra Now, The Bard Music Festival, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London Mozart Players, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, City of London Sinfonia, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico, and at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. Following her debut with the Uppsala Chamber Orchestra in Sweden, she was immediately re-invited and appointed Chief Conductor, a post which she held from 2019-2023.
In previous seasons, Rebecca has guest-conducted the Houston Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, Bakersfield Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, Chicago College of the Performing Arts, Huntsville Symphony, Williamsport Symphony, and Musiqa Houston, and with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra in Israel. Firstprize winner in the Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition, she has conducted throughout Mexico, including repeated engagements with the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional and Orquesta Filarmonica del UNAM, and the state orchestras of Yucatan, Aguascalientes, and Sinaloa. In 2017, Rebecca was also featured in the Bruno Walter National Conductors Preview with the Nashville Symphony.
Rebecca’s discography includes CDs with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (CPE Bach Symphonies / Signum Records, which made the final shortlist for a 2014 Gramophone Award), with the BBC Concert Orchestra (Henry Hadley Orchestral works / Dutton Epoch), with the BBC Scottish Symphony (piano concertos by Amy Beach, Dorothy Howell, Cecil Chaminade / Hyperion Records), and three CDs with the Royal Northern Sinfonia (Haydn Symphonies / Signum Records; George Frederick Bristow’s ‘Jullien Symphony’ / New World Records; Concertos by Aaron Jay Kernis / Signum Records).
Rebecca is passionate about her work with young musicians – she has recently started regular partnerships with the National Children's Orchestra and the with the London Symphony Orchestra Discovery, and previously worked with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, NYO Wales, and NYOGB, with the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, and with the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela (Teresa Carreño), much to the acclaim of its late founder José Antonio Abreu. She was conductor at the Royal Academy of Music’s Junior Department for many years, where she formed the groundbreaking and unique JA Classical Orchestra, and works regularly with the Southbank Sinfonia in London, where she was Associate Conductor for three years.
As Director of Orchestras at Royal Holloway University of London, she has been widely acclaimed for building the orchestral programme to new heights – starting an orchestral scholarship programme, initiating a side-by-side programme with the London Mozart Players, securing high-profile engagements (including ‘Magna Carta 800 at Runnymede’ a project with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Temple Church Choir, performed in the the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and 4000 dignitaries and honoured guests), and establishing a new initiative called ‘Music +’, which aims to build bridges through music with interdepartmental projects and interdisciplinary research.
Previously, Rebecca served as Resident Conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and American Conducting Fellow of The Houston Symphony, and Assistant Conductor of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. She holds a B.Mus. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, an M.Mus in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University, and for two years was the Paul Woodhouse Junior Fellow in Orchestral Conducting at London’s Royal College of Music.
Leader
Rebecca is fascinated about the leadership side of conducting, and its relevance to leadership in other industries. She is an experienced workshop leader, having led ‘Feel the Pulse’ with the London Mozart Players, and ‘Inside the Orchestra’ with the Bishop’s Stortford Sinfonia. She has a wide experience of public speaking: from the stage to a myriad of audiences and circumstances - from writing scripts for and presenting family, education, community and outreach concerts, to speaking to regular classical concertgoers, fundraising speeches, award presentation, at community events and local groups. Rebecca has appeared regularly on various programmes for the BBC, and on radio stations around the world. She founded Music + programme at Royal Holloway, an interdisciplinary project that fosters activity and research between university schools and departments. During the pandemic, Rebecca founded Beyond Borders, an online platform for conductors, musicians and classical music leaders to come together for workshops and discussions and addresses the most pressing issues in the music industry.
Educator
Rebecca is currently Director of Orchestras at Royal Holloway University in London, where she directs the university orchestras, is Founder and Director of the university’s unique Orchestral Scholarship programme, runs side-by-side projects with the London Mozart Players, orchestral seminars, and teaches conducting courses. Previously she served as Associate Conductor of the Southbank Sinfonia, the UK’s premiere professional training orchestra. She is a regular guest conductor with the National Children’s Orchestra and LSO Discovery programme, and has guest conducted the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Wales, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela ‘Teresa Carreño’. Rebecca has worked with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on education and outreach concerts and as part of their Junior Artists programme for diversity and inclusion. As part of her previous positions with the Houston Symphony and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Rebecca curated, presented and wrote scripts for dozens of education, family, and community concerts. She previously served as Director of Orchestras at Kingston University, and for many years was teacher and conductor at the Junior and Primary departments of the Royal Academy of Music.