Conductor, Poet and Advocate
Who is Kalena Bovell?
Propelled by a steadfast commitment to musical excellence and community access, Kalena Bovell received the prestigious 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence—the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization—and made history as the first Black woman to conduct an opera in Canada. She previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony, with past guest conducting engagements including the Minnesota Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony. Upcoming appearances include the New World Symphony and the Orchestre classique de Montréal. Dedicated to music education, she has collaborated with initiatives such as the YOLA National Festival and the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and has been in residence as a guest clinician at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of Redlands, and The Juilliard School Pre-College.
“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.