Lewis T. Booker Chair

Valentina Peleggi has been Music Director of the Richmond Symphony since the 20/21 season and recently renewed her contract to Summer 2028. While focusing on developing the orchestra’s sound she has also launched new concert formats, joined national co-commission partnerships, and started a composer-in-residence programme and conducting masterclasses. 

Peleggi’s guest appearances in North America have included the Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, New World, Kansas City and Colorado symphonies. In 24/25 she debuts with the Indianapolis, Pacific and Vancouver symphonies, as well as the London Philharmonic and Bournemouth Symphony, and returns to the Residentie Orkest, Liege Philharmonic and Opera North. Previous European guest visits include the Royal Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic. 

Opera is a vital part of Peleggi’s activity. In May 2024 she made a hugely successful debut at Seattle Opera with Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and will conduct Rossini’s Semiramide at the Opera de Rouen in 2025. She has previously conducted Le Comte Ory with the Philharmonia Orchestra at Garsington Opera, and made her Opéra de Lyon debut with Piazzola’s Maria de Buenos Aires. 

2021 saw the release of her first CD (Naxos), performing with the São Paulo Symphony Chorus. While acting Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Chorus, she was concurrently Resident Conductor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. 

Peleggi graduated with Distinction at the Royal Academy of Music of London. She furthered her studies with David Zinman and Daniele Gatti at the Zurich Tonhalle and the Royal Concertgebouw and has received numerous prizes and scholarships, including the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship 2015-2017 under Marin Alsop. Peleggi also holds a Master in Conducting with Honours from the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome, going on to assist Bruno Campanella and Gianluigi Gelmetti.