On today’s episode of Orchestrating Change, we welcome Mélisse Brunet, who is serving as our guest conductor for MasterWorks VI: Brahms’ A German Requim and is also a CSO Music Director finalist for the 2026-2027 season. Renowned for her “uncommon emotional intensity” and commanding presence on the podium, conductor Mélisse Brunet is gaining international recognition across the U.S. and Europe. A Paris native with Spanish and Italian roots, she currently serves as Music Director of the Lexington Philharmonic—the first woman to hold the role—and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Brunet is also featured in the documentary Maestra, which follows her journey at the La Maestra competition and earned 2nd place in the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary, alongside widespread acclaim from major media outlets.