Simone Menezes

Simone Menezes is an international conductor and artistic director based in Paris, recognized for her rare ability to unite musical excellence, visionary programming, and the creation of large-scale cultural projects with worldwide impact. A leading presence on the international stage, she has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Orchestre de Paris, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, among others. She has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Pierre Boulez Hall in Berlin, and the Cologne Philharmonic. Beyond the podium, Simone Menezes is the originator of interdisciplinary projects that have reshaped how concert music engages with contemporary audiences. Her project Amazônia — created in collaboration with photographer Sebastião Salgado and the Philharmonie de Paris, combining music by Villa-Lobos and Philip Glass with Salgado’s iconic images — has been performed with more than 15 orchestras worldwide. Her audiovisual documentary Metanoia received the prize for “Best Video in Performance & Documentaries” at the International Classical Music Awards 2023. Her Scheherazade, a Tale was nominated for the German Critics’ Prize in 2024. Her Ravel recording with pianist François-Xavier Poizat and the London Philharmonia Orchestra was awarded the “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine. In 2025, she commissioned the world premiere of Fazil Say’s piano concerto Mother Earth. She has premiered works by John Adams, Thomas Adès, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Toru Takemitsu, and Gabriela Ortiz, among others, and maintains close artistic collaborations with Fazıl Say, Gautier Capuçon, Kaija Saariaho, and Paavo Järvi. As founder and artistic director of Ensemble K, she has built one of the most distinctive curatorial voices in contemporary classical music — a platform that bridges musical traditions, artistic disciplines, and global audiences. Her work extends to major international stages including the World Expositions in Dubai and Osaka, and to partnerships with institutions and brands such as Cartier and Zurich Insurance. Simone Menezes studied in São Paulo, Paris, and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She was mentored by Paavo Järvi.