January 2022

Watch The Dallas Opera Showcase

You can watch the performance of The Dallas Opera Institute for Women Conductors until January 11th 2022 for free by clicking on "more" below.

July 12th - August 12th 2021

Conducting Fellowship AAF 

The American Austrian Foundation Faber Fellowship provides promising young conductors (age 30 or younger) from the United States the opportunity to spend up to four weeks at the Salzburg Festival observing the world’s leading conductors and artists at work during rehearsals and performances.

December 10, 2020

ASU alumna awarded two prestigious conducting fellowships

Michelle has been featured in an article for ASU NOW on her recent accomplishments and tracing her experiences at Arizona State University when pursuing her doctoral degrees. To read the article, click below.

September 2020

Featured Speaker at the III International Symposium Women Conductors 2020 

Michelle was invited to be a featured speaker and present on her research on female conductors that have emigrated to the U.S. She was also part of a panel about the profession in the U.S. with Antonia Joy Wilson as moderator.

May 2020

Michelle Graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Music

Michelle defended her research paper in April 2020 titled "A Survey on a Set of Emigreé Female Conductors in the U.S.: Challenges and Perceptions. She now is a Doctor of Musical Arts with emphasis in Orchestral Conducting, title granted by Arizona State University.

December 10th 2021

Feature in an article for the Columbia Daily Tribune

"Guest conductor will shape, strengthen traditions at Symphony of Toys concert" - The article talks about Michelle's debut with the Missouri Symphony with their concert Symphony of Toys.

June 4-6 2021

Diverse Pathways to the Podium Symposium

As a co-creator of Girls Who Conduct, Michelle will be part of the organizing committee for the Symposium for Women Conductors. She will be attending as a participant, moderator and technical support. 

November 2020

Launching of Girls Who Conduct

Girls Who Conduct is an initiative created in 2020 to empower and encourage the upcoming generations of women, women-identifying, and non-binary conductors by providing a program for mentorship, camaraderie, and training in order to foster diversity and inclusion in classical music. Michelle is a co-creator and instructor in the organization. 

June 2020

2020 Austrian American Foundation Faber Young Conductors Fellowship

This fellowship provides promising young conductors (age 30 or younger) from the United States the opportunity to spend up to four weeks at the Salzburg Festival observing the world’s leading conductors and artists at work during rehearsals and performances.

October 6th 2021

CAG Signs Michelle Di Russo

Concert Artists Guild (CAG) has added a new category of young artists to its roster: conductors. The 70-year-old organization has signed Michelle Di Russo to be a part of their young artists roster. 

April 2021

Michelle is back to work with the North Carolina Symphony

Michelle will be guest conducting two performances of Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals that will be live-streamed. She will also be the cover conductor for Sarah Hicks on her performance of "Pops Around the World."

September 2020

The Dallas Opera Hart Institute for Women Conductors 2021

Michelle has been selected as a Conducting Fellow to participate in this groundbreaking institute, which has changed the face of classical music by significantly advancing the careers of women in the most visible position in the orchestra. 

May 2020

20/21 Project Inclusion Conducting Freeman Fellowship  

Michelle will be joining Project Inclusion with the Chicago Sinfonietta for the 20/21 season as a Fellow/Auditor.