Conductor, Poet and Advocate
Who is Kalena Bovell?
In 2023, she made history as the first Black woman to conduct an opera in Canada, leading a world-premiere reimagining of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. She is the 2024 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a former Taki Alsop Conducting Fellow. In 2025, she was named an inaugural Conducting Fellow of the San Diego Symphony, and will lead performances at the Jacobs Music Center and The Rady Shell. Raised in Los Angeles, she began private violin study at 18 and now shares her journey to inspire musicians from nontraditional backgrounds.
“Dear Soul”
"Dear Soul..." is a collection of poetry that chronicles the ups and downs of a woman navigating her way to through life, love, and loss, all while rediscovering the power of her own voice."Dear Soul..." is honest, unapologetic, and uncomprimising in its exploration of real and raw human emotion.