Born in Bogotá, Colombia, conductor Sara Aldana is recognized for her collaborative leadership and belief in music as a force for connection and inclusion. She is the 2026–27 assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra and previously served as cover conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (2023–25), where she worked alongside Jader Bignamini, Marie Jacquot, Jeannette Sorrell, Kevin John Edusei, and Tabita Berglund.
Previously, Ms. Aldana served as assistant conductor of the Reno Chamber Orchestra, associate conductor of the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and conducting fellow and assistant conductor to Alondra de la Parra at Festival Paax GNP in Mexico. She has conducted the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Basel Chamber Orchestra, and other ensembles in master classes with Mei-Ann Chen, Johannes Schlaefli, Cristian Măcelaru, and Marin Alsop.
Recent highlights include debuts with the Bogotá Symphony Orchestra and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, as well as a Conducting Fellowship at the Aspen Conducting Academy. Previous summer fellowships include the Cabrillo Festival for Contemporary Music, the National Orchestra Institute, and the Conductors Retreat at Medomak.
Ms. Aldana has studied with Marin Alsop and Joseph Young at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and holds a master’s in orchestral conducting from the University of Michigan under Professor Kenneth Kiesler. Her mentors also include Kelly Kuo and Douglas Kinney-Frost. An accomplished violinist, Ms. Aldana holds two degrees in violin performance from the University of Texas at Austin.