Biographies

Stéphane Denève, Music Director

Stéphane Denève currently is Music Director for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Brussels Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Director of the Centre for Future Orchestral Repertoire (CffOR). Recognized internationally for the exceptional quality of his performances and programming, Denève regularly appears at major concert venues with the world's greatest orchestras and soloists. He has a special affinity for the music of his native France, and is a passionate advocate for music of the 21st century.
Read more

Stephanie Childress, Assistant Conductor

Assistant Conductor Stephanie Childress Stephanie Childress was appointed to the position of SLSO Assistant Conductor in 2020 by Music Director Stéphane Denève. In that role, she also serves as the Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. Second prize winner at the inaugural conducting competition, La Maestra, held in Paris in autumn 2020, Childress is making her mark as a conductor and has been likened to “other notable young conductors of the past such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Sir Simon Rattle” (Varsity).

Leonard Slatkin, Conductor Laureate

Following a successful tenure as Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony from 1979 until 1996, Leonard Slatkin was named Conductor Laureate. Born in Los Angeles to a distinguished musical family, his parents were the conductor-violinist Felix Slatkin and cellist Eleanor Aller, founding members of the famed Hollywood String Quartet. Slatkin began his musical studies on the violin and studied conducting with his father, followed by Walter Susskind at the Aspen Music Festival and School and Jean Morel at the Juilliard School.

Read Mor

Kevin McBeth, IN UNISON Chorus Director

Kevin McBeth was appointed Director of the IN UNISON® Chorus in January 2011. McBeth is the Director of Music at Manchester United Methodist Church in suburban St. Louis. He serves as full-time administrator for the Music Ministry, which includes 18 choral and handbell ensembles, involving nearly 500 children, youth and adults. He has also recently served as Adjunct Professor in Choral Music at Webster University. Over the past 20 years, he has conducted honor, festival and touring choirs (choral and handbell) in the United States and Canada.
Read more

Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO

Marie-Hélène Bernard joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as President and CEO on July 1, 2015. Previously, she served as Executive Director and CEO of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston; Chief of Staff, Project Manager, and Orchestra Manager for the Philadelphia Orchestra; Orchestra Manager for the Cleveland Orchestra; and President and CEO of the Canton (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra. Under her leadership, the SLSO is experiencing great momentum on all fronts, with ground-breaking artistic initiatives with Music Director Stéphane Denève, the production of new digital concerts and online educational programs, the expansion of important partnerships, and a continued focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion—all designed to make music accessible to all.