MEET
Alicia Lieu

​​​​​​Conductor, composer, and producer Alicia Lieu has guest-conducted the New Conductors
Orchestra, Jackson Heights Orchestra, OneWorld Symphonic Festival Orchestra, MuSE Chorus, and for OperaRox Productions. She was a Conducting Fellow with the Canton Symphony (Ohio) for the 2024-25 season and has served as Assistant Conductor for the El Paso Symphony Orchestra.

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Alicia has founded three non-profits: New York Conducting Institute, Pitches Brew, and Composers Collective, created the Women Conductors Workshop, Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker, and The 48-Hour Musical, featured in Forbes, Downbeat, and Broadway World publications, and has been awarded multiple New Work grants from the New York Foundation on the Arts for solo piano works, her full length opera, “Unwrapping Fortune,” and most recently, a work for pan-Asian instrumental ensemble.

She holds Masters Degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at El Paso
and Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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BAFFA is so excited to have Alicia as their Guest Orchestra Director for our upcoming concert, "A Journey Through Music". We were able to interview Alicia and ask some questions about her experience as a music director and musician.

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Why were you interested in joining BAFFA as Orchestra Director?

"I watched the concert on the BAFFA website and I could sense the energy and enthusiasm coming from orchestra. It seems like people really enjoyed making music together."

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Can you describe your favorite experience with conducting musical ensembles?

"My favorite moment in conducting is when the rehearsing, listening, and teamwork start to gel. That moment when eye contact with the conductor is merely a confirmation of what is supposed to happen during music making instead of having moments of self doubt and perhaps some anxiety. This happens as a result of enjoying the shared experience of getting to know the music as a group and also each individual's role in making music."

 

What was the most challenging piece of music that you have conducted? Where was it and why was it so challenging?

"Different pieces of music can be challenging in different aspects. In terms of musicality and sound production, Brahms symphonies are the hardest, especially the movements in 3/4 time since playing it too slow makes it drag insufferably, and playing it too fast makes it feel like a waltz. Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland is such a fun piece to listen to, but behind the music, the conductor and musicians are working hard. The opening is slow and controlled, but the long notes make it somewhat easy for the people counting to get lost. There are many transitions within the piece and some of the tempo changes can't be prepared with upbeats, and getting those together is challenging. There is a fair amount of irregular meter, which is always challenging for an ensemble, but not as much irregular meter as the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky I suppose."

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What are the feelings that you experience when conducting/directing an orchestra? Do you have different feelings from conducting rehearsals to conducting concerts?

"During rehearsals, I feel more focused on the process. From the initial reading to the work sessions, I feel somewhat serious (but I love lighthearted moments) in terms of getting something accomplished during rehearsal. The work can be challenging, but it feels rewarding when things start to feel smoother and more familiar, and eventually comfortable. I'm thinking about what people need in order for that to happen. And I'm keeping an eye on the time to make sure people get breaks and don't get physically overtaxed. It feels serious, but good.

For performances, I feel optimistic and enthusiastic, and excited to have an audience to perform for. Regardless of what happens during a performance, I like to offer up a smile or two and have a good time during performances."

 

What's the most unexpected thing that's ever happened to you while conducting/directing?

"While I was working on opera scenes in graduate school, there was a singer who would continually be late on her entrance. This was in the Chanson Boheme from Carmen. During the performance, I was fully expecting her to be late and so I was prepared to give an extra big and encouraging invitation to come in, but she actually came in a full bar early. Luckily, the orchestra heard the mistake and was able to adjust accordingly."

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What has been your favorite experience been while being involved in an orchestra, either as a conductor or musician?

"Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker still tops my list of favorite experiences. Although musicians play this music year after year and can sometimes grow weary of it, I created an experience where the audience gets a curated participatory opportunity to be onstage and interact with professional dancers. It makes it exciting for all parties involved. And in the process of producing DIY Nutcracker, I discovered a dance from the second act that Tchaikovsky wrote, but never made it into the final version of the ballet. With great luck, I was able to find it and add it to the show."

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What are you most excited about with directing the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra?

"I really like the mix of popular and classical music. I am looking forward to working hard on some great music and perhaps having some instant audience feedback during the concert. Maybe some clapping from the audience, or even some singing along! I am not throwing away my shot!"