Versatility, passion and innovation are the hallmarks of American conductor Janna Hymes. Renowned for her inspiring performances, musical depth and energetic presence both on and off the podium, she has developed a reputation as an exciting, detailed communicator. Praised by the press as “an architect, a builder in sound, a conductor with an overall view who never misses details,” Janna has been Music Director of several orchestras. Recently she served as Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphony, a post she held for 15 years, Artistic Director of the Carmel Symphony in Indiana and currently she is the Artistic Director of the Sedona Symphony.

With each position she holds, Janna works tirelessly to bring the orchestra to the forefront of the community. She believes the power of music is a vehicle that brings people together. Her programming pushes through conventional concert experiences by focusing on performances which leave the audience wanting more. Janna has a sensibility which allows her to pair traditional orchestral music with something unexpected, resulting in a fresh concert experience. A strong believer in collaboration, it is not unusual to hear a world premiere, see dancers, choirs, music with film and even aerial artists onstage throughout the orchestra’s season.

A strong advocate for contemporary music, Janna has introduced audiences to many new composers and styles of music. Her experience as Music Director of the Cincinnati Composer’s Guild and her work in the Netherlands conducting the contemporary music group, the Delta Ensemble, has brought her to the forefront of new music. Most recently, she devoted an entire concert to Hispanic Heritage Month thus attracting a totally new audience.

Her commitment to education shows no bounds. Her energy, experience and passion bring a new light to those around her. A true believer that music can change people’s lives, her educational efforts go beyond working with orchestras. As a frequent guest conductor, speaker, teacher, and advisor, she aims to bridge the connection between music and the human spirit. Most recently she developed a small ensemble program bringing musicians to parks, schools, cafes, libraries, street fairs and retirement homes. In each position she has held, there has been a noticeable artistic improvement and depth of programming resulting in a renewed energy, increased visibility and community support.

Recent performance highlights include the West Virginia Symphony and concerts with the symphony orchestras of Savannah, Venice, Roanoke, Macon, and Portland; serving as Artist in Residence at Colby College; leading the Williamsburg Symphony on its first international tour and conducting the Maine Pro Music Orchestra as part of the festivities celebrating the 125th anniversary of the town of Rockport, Maine. Janna is a frequent guest conductor at the Sewanee Music Festival in Tennessee.

Among the orchestras with which Janna has appeared are those in Houston, Indianapolis, Oregon, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Hartford, Madison, Stamford, Harrisburg, Spokane, Richmond, Springfield, Bozeman, Canton, Chappaqua Chamber, Bangor, and Omaha, as well as the San Francisco Women’s Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra. Internationally, she has led the Costa Rica National Symphony on numerous occasions along with many tours with the Delta Ensemble of Holland, the National Orchestre de Lyon, Besancon Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico.

Janna’s previous posts include Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (2004 to 2019); Artistic Director of the Carmel Symphony Music Director (2017 to 2023): Music Director of the Maine Grand Opera; founder and conductor of Maine Pro Musica; Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and Music Director of the Columbus Women’s Orchestra, the Cincinnati Composers’ Guild and the I Solisti Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. She has served on the music faculty of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Akron and Butler University in Indianapolis.

Janna is the proud recipient of several prestigious awards including a Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation Grant; a top prize of the International Conducting Competition in Besancon, France; a distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and she is the recipient of a Fulbright Award.

She studied under such prominent conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Meier, Otto Werner-Mueller and Gunther Schuller, and holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She also studied at the Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festival.