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. As of the season of 2026/27 she starts her position as Kapellmeisterin at Staatstheater Mainz. Since February 2024 Lea Ray has been a scholar in the »Forum Dirigieren« programme of the »Deutsche Musikrat«.

She is the only German conductor participating in the renowned international competition »La Maestra« 2026 in Paris, which is presented by  the Orchestre de Paris and the Paris Mozart Orchestra. 

Engagements in the upcoming season of 2025/26 will lead her to a variety of orchestras including  Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Göttinger Symphonieorchester, Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen, Vogtlandphilharmonie and Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen. In October 2025 she made her debut at Staatstheater Mainz conducting a performance of Janáček’s »The Cunning Little Vixen«. She assisted Music Director Hermann Bäumer in the new production of the opera. 

In the season of 2024/25 she conducted concerts for children with Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie and Jenaer Philharmonie and made her opera debut at Landestheater Coburg with Rossini’s »Il barbiere di Siviglia«. Furthermore, she assisted Leslie Suganandarajah with the Landesjugendsinfonieorchester Hessen.

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.