Danielle Jagelski

Danielle Jagelski is a conductor and composer based in New York City. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Danielle is the Music Director and co-founder of Renegade Opera, an immersive opera company based in Portland, OR.  At home in both choral and instrumental realms, Danielle serves as cover conductor at Manhattan School of Music, and has recently conducted at Hallowed Halls (Portland, OR) and Aquilon Music Festival (McMinnville, OR). Danielle is a fierce advocate for equity in musical spaces, and has presented her research in mixed-race studies and classical music throughout the US and Canada.  Danielle began her musical studies in music composition at Hamline University with Jannika Vandervelde, and conducting studies at Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She is currently pursuing further studies in Orchestral Conducting at Manhattan School of Music with Maestro George Manahan. 

"The Plimpton Foundation made it possible for me to attend the Prague Summer Nights music festival where I gained invaluable experience as a young conductor. I was able to work with world class faculty, experience a different culture, and even conduct a rehearsal in the Estates Theater where Mozart himself conducted. As an Indigenous musician (Oneida/Ojibwe), this was my first time working with another Native conductor, Timothy Long, as Assistant Conductor for Le nozze di Figaro. This experience has shaped my career in many ways. I am now music directing at Temple University as well as serving as Music Director of Renegade Opera, and have a much stronger skillset to help me on my musical journey. I am now more connected with the beautiful community of Native musicians, and hope to continue to increase visibility of the important work Native artists contribute to the musical world. The generosity of the Plimpton Foundation helped bridge the gap that many musicians from diverse backgrounds must overcome."

-Danielle Jagelski