Photography PETER ADAMIK
ON EXPANDING THE LIMITS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND PERFORMING NEW SPACES OF ENGAGEMENT.
As Music Director of the German-Romantic Orchester, MARINA QUASHA represents a new generation reshaping classical music. The orchestra’s subtitle — “The sound of young talent transforming tradition into the future” — captures its respect for the past and its forward-looking vision.
This spirit of evolution also shapes how she sees the art form today. Quasha is committed to making classical music more inclusive and engaging, whether through chamber performances in unexpected places — from open savannahs to Japanese forests — or by encouraging a more relaxed concert atmosphere. “Things must evolve to survive — and classical music is no exception,” she says.
For Quasha, music is connection, emotion, and reflection. She once planned a business career, but an injury and a chance encounter with Claudio Abbado’s recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony changed everything. “I knew then I wanted to be a conductor,” she recalls.
Her business background broadened her ambitions. She became aware of how traditional orchestral structures struggle to sustain themselves, and her goal is to build a truly sustainable model — one that supports musicians and the future of classical performance. When she speaks about conducting, her words carry humility and awe. “It’s perhaps the most special — and also the most stressful — experience,” she admits. “But it’s the most exhilarating thing in the world — so beautiful, so alive.”