Bar Avni

Israeli conductor Bar Avni won the La Maestra competition in Paris in 2024, sweeping four additional prizes. From 2021 to 2024 she served as Chief Conductor of the Bayer Philharmoniker and is noted for curating bold programmes that treat concerts as immersive experiences. Born in Israel and originally trained as a percussionist, she studied conducting with Yoav Talmi, Martin Sieghart and Ulrich Windfuhr, and assisted conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Klaus Mäkelä and Myung‑Whun Chung.

Avni leads workshops in schools, hospitals and corporate settings, using conducting to enhance body awareness, non‑verbal expression and self‑confidence. In the 2025/26 season she has premiered Laura Bowler’s The White Book with co‑commissions from the London Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony and Copenhagen Philharmonic, and has made debuts with several major European orchestras.