Biography English (long)

India born Danish conductor Maria Badstue's passion, versatility, and compelling presence onstage, coupled with her reputation as an engaging collaborator and innate communicator, have resulted in a growing international career. Praised as “one of the best young Danish conductors of today,” (Berlingske Media), her engagements outside of the Nordic countries continues to expand, and include appearances in Italy, France, Germany, the USA, India, Poland, and Romania. A natural leader and creator, in addition to her work as Artistic Director and Founder for Nordic Masterclass for Conductors and INDK Symphonic Collaboration, two acclaimed initiatives that she launched in 2012 and 2018 respectively, Maestra Badstue is also a co-founder of Copenhagen’s The Ørestad Klassiske MusikFestival, a four-year-old music festival focusing on youth and the environment.

Highlights of Maestra Badstue’s 2025-26 season 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. 2025 summer engagements included performances in India with the Symphony Orchestra of India, and making her debut with South Asian Symphony as well as leading a workshop on Leadership and Collaboration presented by the symphony.

Recent highlights include debuts 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 Gora 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 [LG1] 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.

Sought after 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 asan 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.

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.