About Jessica

Jessica Bejarano is a dynamic conductor, arts leader, and cultural innovator redefining the role of the symphony orchestra in the 21st century. As Founder, CEO, and Music Director of the San Francisco Philharmonic, Jessica has built a distinctive artistic platform that bridges classical tradition with contemporary culture, expands access to orchestral music, and brings symphonic performance to new and diverse audiences.

Her professional appointments and affiliations include Curator and Scholar in Residence with San Francisco Opera, Cover Conductor with the San Francisco Symphony, board member of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO), and board member of the International Conductors’ Guild. She also served as a Keynote Speaker for Stanford Health Care during 2024 – 2025, bringing her leadership perspective and artistic vision to audiences beyond the concert hall.

A Trailblazer in the National Spotlight

Jessica’s groundbreaking work and career have attracted national media attention. NBC’s TODAY show, featuring Natalie Morales, profiled her as a “Woman Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Symphony Conductor.” PBS NewsHour Weekend spotlighted her as an emerging female conductor, while KQED named her one of the Bay Area’s Top 10 Artists to Watch in its Bay Brilliant feature in 2018. In 2022, she appeared on ABC’s hit television series To Tell the Truth. Her impact on the region’s cultural landscape was further recognized in 2023, when Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) selected her as one of its 100 Honorees celebrating contributions to the arts in the Bay Area.

Redefining the Symphony Experience

Under Jessica’s artistic leadership, the San Francisco Philharmonic has pursued ambitious collaborations that challenge traditional boundaries and introduce orchestral music to new audiences. In 2022, Jessica and the orchestra partnered with Remezcla and Tecate to create Tecate Alta, an innovative performance bringing urban Latino sounds into the symphonic arena.

That same year, the San Francisco Philharmonic joined legendary American rock band Journey for the Winter Wonderland Spectacular at Chase Center Plaza in San Francisco. Jessica has also led the orchestra in a crossover collaboration with acclaimed Bay Area rapper Andre Nickatina, further demonstrating her commitment to connecting orchestral artistry with the musical voices shaping contemporary culture.

Her work reflects a bold artistic philosophy: the symphony orchestra is not confined to tradition— it is a living, evolving art form capable of reaching across generations, genres, and communities.

International Conducting Career

Jessica’s conducting career spans the United States and international stages. In 2019, she made history as the first woman to guest conduct the American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles. She was also a featured guest conductor and clinician at San Diego State University’s Women in Music, Diversity and Leadership Conference. In 2018, she was one of only 12 female conductors selected internationally to participate in the International Women’s Conference in New York City. During that period, she served as Resident Conductor of the University of California, Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra.

In 2022, Jessica was invited to guest conduct the Kansas All-State Orchestra, leading a 200- member student ensemble through rehearsals and performance—a testament to her ability to inspire musicians, communicate a compelling artistic vision, and lead large ensembles toward a unified musical result.

Her international guest-conducting engagements include the Classical Symphony in St. Petersburg, Russia; the Urbino Summer Orchestra in Italy; the Philharmonie Orchestra “Mihail Jora” in Bacău, Romania; the Ruse National Philharmonic in Bulgaria; the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic; the Antonio Soler Orchestra in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain; and the Falcon Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. She has also guest conducted numerous orchestras throughout the United States and held conducting positions with orchestras, choirs, and youth ensembles across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Leadership, Education & Inspiration

Beyond the podium, Jessica is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of music, arts education, and inclusive cultural leadership. As a motivational and keynote speaker, she works with arts organizations, corporations, and educational institutions, sharing insights on leadership, perseverance, creative vision, and breaking barriers in traditionally exclusive fields.

Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Choral and Orchestral Conducting from the University of California, Davis; a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Wyoming; and an Associate of Fine Arts in Music Education from Casper College.

Through her work as a conductor, entrepreneur, and cultural leader, Jessica Bejarano continues to expand the possibilities of orchestral music—building bridges between artistic excellence, innovation, and the communities that music has the power to transform.