Kalena Bovell is Assistant Conductor to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony. The Los Angeles native earned her Master of Music and Graduate Professional Diploma in Orchestral Conducting from The Hartt School. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the College of the Performing Arts at Chapman University, which honored her as a Distinguished Alumni in 2021. Maestra Bovell has performed at the BBC Proms with the Chineke! Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, and in the Kennedy Center’s “Reframing the Narrative” program. Kalena Bovell’s story is one of talent, as well as tenacity and generosity. She derives her artistic philosophy from her own challenging experiences in the classical music world. As a promising young violinist, she lacked resources to take private lessons until she was 18. Then she discovered conducting, and was so motivated to excel that she worked six jobs to fund plane tickets, workshops, and conducting lessons to fulfill her dream. She shares her story far and wide, hoping to inspire younger musicians with similar dreams. Today’s Beautiful Music features Kalena Bovell at the 2021 Sewanee Summer Music Festival performing the BALLADE IN A MINOR by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. You can also use the link below to learn more about Kalena Bovell’s life in music.