Biography

Lea Ray is a young German conductor, who was awarded the 2nd prize in the »Campus Dirigieren« competition (1st not awarded) as well as the orchestra prize by the Dresdner Philharmonie in May 2025. In the season of 2024/25 she made her opera debut at Landestheater Coburg with Rossini’s »Il barbiere di Siviglia«. Furthermore, she conducted concerts for children with Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie and Jenaer Philharmonie. At Staatstheater Mainz she assisted Music Director Hermann Bäumer in the new production of Janacek’s »The Cunning Little Vixen« and will conduct a performance next season. Since February 2024 Lea Ray has been a scholar in the »Forum Dirigieren« programme of the »Deutsche Musikrat«.

Engagements in the upcoming season of 2025/26 will lead her to a variety of orchestras including Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, Bergische Symphoniker, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie and Vogtlandphilharmonie.

During the last seasons Lea Ray assisted Dominik Beykirch with Dresdner Philharmonie and Staatskapelle Weimar. She also assisted opera productions such as Rossini’s »La Cenerentola« at Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar and Peter Eötvös’ »Sleepless« at Theater Chemnitz. In the season of 2022/2023 Lea Ray was conducting scholar and assistant in the orchestra academy programme of Bergische Symphoniker.

She gained further conducting experience in rehearsals and concerts with Staatskapelle Weimar, Jenaer Philharmonie, Bodensee Philharmonie, Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha and Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester.

Lea Ray studies at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar with Prof. Ekhart Wycik, Prof. Nicolás Pasquet, Johannes Klumpp and Prof. Gregor Bühl. She received further valuable input by Prof. Johannes Schlaefli, Prof. Daniele Agiman, Prof. Ole Kristian Ruud, Prof. Christoph-Mathias Müller, Otto Tausk and Prof. Richard Wien.