Biography English (long)

2026-27 Season Biography

A galvanizing force on the podium, India born Danish conductor Maria Badstue is known as a compelling, intuitive communicator and is a sought-after versatile collaborator with orchestras and opera houses. Her engagements include appearances in Europe, India, and the United States as well as throughout the Nordic countries. A natural leader and creator, in addition to her growing career as an international guest conductor, she is Artistic Director and Founder of Nordic Masterclass for Conductors and for INDK Symphonic Collaboration, two acclaimed initiatives that she launched in 2012 and 2018 respectively. Badstue is also co-founder of Copenhagen’s HØRESTAD - Ørestad Klassiske MusikFestival, an acclaimed music festival focusing on youth and the environment celebrating its fifth anniversary this season.

Highlights of Maestra Badstue’s 2026-27 season include her return to the Danish Chamber Players leading a four- concert Denmark tour of the world premiere of Peter Bruun’s new opera, Erna og Kroen (August and September); debuts with Germany’s Beethoven Orchester Bonn
(September), Concert at Italy´s Rifrazioni Festival at Castello di Solfagnano leading the Orchestra delle Cento Citta (October), returns to Symphony Orchestra of India for her seventh collaboration (also October); and debuts with Spain’s MUSIKENE the Higher School of Music of the Basque Country, giving a Masterclass and a concert with the renowned music school’s orchestra (December). Highlights of the second half of Badstue’s season highlights continues with debuts with her Mexico debut with Orquesta Filharmonic de la UNAM, and France’s Opera de Limoges (both February); and a summer 2027 return to Italy’s Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto.

Recent engagements include her debut with France’s L'Opéra de Tours - Grand Théâtre and her Belgian debut with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra / de Filharmonie Royal Flemish Orchestra at the Queen Elisabeth Hall, her debut with as well as leading a workshop on Leadership and Collaboration presented by South Asian Symphony, her debut with France’s Orchestre National de Metz Grand Est; leading Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana for the SOI Scuola dell ’Opera Italiana Fiorenza Cedolins & Voice Competition; guesting at Poland’s Corno Brass Music Festival in Zielona Góra as well as return engagements with France's Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice; Germany’s Theater und Orchester Neubrandenburg / Neustrelitz; and Denmark’s Odense Symphony, Copenhagen Philharmonic and The Danish Sinfonietta / Randers Kammerorkester and Italy’s Orchestre di Padova e del Veneto.

On the operatic stage, Badstue’s work has included productions with Portland Opera (USA), Theater und Orchester Neubrandenburg / Neustrelitz, Cosi fan Tutte at Copenhagen’s Koncertkirken with musicians from the Royal Danish Opera and Nontardar, the Copenhagen Opera Festival at Den Røde Plads / BLOX Copenhagen, FolkOperan in Sweden,and Athelas Sinfonietta (Frandsen’s A Doll’s House) and the premiere of Lars Klit’s Angelo – La Opera in Copenhagen.

Praised as “one of the best young Danish conductors of today,” (Berlingske Media), and in demand for her communicative abilities both on and off the podium, Ms. Badstue's strong belief in the power of music has manifested itself in two successful initiatives to date. Both INDK Symphonic Collaboration and Nordic Masterclass for Conductors promote classical music as an art form and as an important part of society. Hosted by India’s premier cultural institution, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, in collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra of India, INDK's programme, “A Symphonic Collaboration Between India and Denmark” launched in 2018. In 2012 Badstue founded the Nordic Masterclass for Conductors, today considered one of the most important conducting masterclasses in Europe, and collaborates with Professor Jorma Panula and the South Denmark Philharmonic.

In 2024 she served as a featured jury member of the Jorma Panula International Conducting Competition (Finland) and the Felix Mendelssohn International Conducting Competition (Czech Republic).

The recipient of a prestigious 2019-2021 Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship (TACF), Ms. Badstue is mentored by TACF Founder and internationally renowned conductor Marin Alsop. She holds master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the Norwegian State Academy, and in Trumpet Performance from the Danish National Academy of Music. Her work is rooted in the Finnish School of Orchestral Conducting.


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