Sitali Dewan announced as Conductor in Residence with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra for 2025/26

Sitali is the fourth conductor to hold the residency, which launched in 2022 to support young musicians from historically under-represented backgrounds. Designed to nurture diverse talent and champion representation within the orchestra, the Conductor in Residence position is part of an ongoing partnership with Black Lives in Music to help build an equitable, inclusive environment at Guildhall School.  

As Conductor in Residence with the LSSO, Sitali is involved in all aspects of the orchestra, including selecting repertoire and leading sectional rehearsals, as well as having the opportunity for a professional credit conducting the orchestra in concert.  

Sitali grew up in London and Berlin, with German-Indian parents and an inspirational sister. Her upbringing was culturally and musically rich, and it is this warmth, openness and affinity for collaboration that Sitali carries into her music making. She has conducted premieres with ensembles such as the Jönköping Sinfonietta and Kammerorchester Unter den Linden, and enjoys collaborating closely with composers. Recent highlights include multiple appearances at the Berliner Philharmonie and Musikaliska in Stockholm, as well as performances with members of the Swedish Radio Choir. In the 2025/26 season, she is part of the Talent Programme at Stockholm’s Folkoperan.  

Sitali has worked with inclusive youth orchestras in Madrid and extensively as a vocal coach in Berlin, Dresden and Kampala. At the Dresden Philharmonic Children’s Choir, she led several vocal groups while completing her Masters in Music Education, and was recently appointed lecturer in conducting at the Rostock University of Music and Theatre. With a strong passion for interdisciplinary approaches and movement, Sitali has engaged deeply with eurythmics and was awarded the Jaques-Dalcroze Scholarship linked to Hellerau. She is currently continuing her conducting studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and has received coaching from Marin Alsop during a masterclass in New York. 

Sitali Dewan, Conductor in Residence with the LSSO for 2025/26, says: 

“I am overjoyed to be joining the LSSO as Conductor in Residence for the 2025/26 season. To join forces with this dynamic orchestra is a true privilege and a full-circle moment: I first heard them over twenty years ago as a young child living in the Barbican. Their recipe for magic lies in creating a diverse space of musical discovery, growth and collaboration – something invaluable for young musicians, and something I recognise deeply, having grown up in a youth choir that became a second musical home and family for me. I am excited to contribute and embark on this journey together, bringing vibrant programmes to life!” 

Roger Wilson, Operations Director at Black Lives in Music, says:  

“I'm delighted that Sitali will be the next LSSO Conductor in Residence. As the orchestra continues to enhance its reputation as one of the UK's finest youth orchestras, it's truly wonderful to continue our collaboration with Guildhall Young Artists on this very important project. The intersectional challenges of race and gender representation on the conducting podium remain. It's important that as a sector we do everything we can to nurture an inclusive environment for all to genuinely feel they belong. I'm looking forward to seeing Sitali work with the LSSO throughout this fantastic year-long programme, and it's my sincere hope that this very important collaboration will help Sitali to take the next step on her conducting journey.”  

Bryan Welton, Head of Centre for Young Musicians, says: 

“We are delighted to welcome Sitali to this year’s scheme. Her energy and forward-thinking approach will be of real value to our young musicians, helping us nurture new players and connect with wider audiences, and in doing so, broaden the reach of orchestral music.” 

Hailed by Sir Simon Rattle as “an incomparable ambassador for the dynamism and excellence of British youth”, the LSSO has been celebrated as a potent symbol of the talents and achievements of London’s finest young musicians. Managed by GYA’s Centre for Young Musicians, the orchestra aims to give its members a complete experience of life as an orchestral musician.