"French conductor Ben-Santamaria is fast becoming one of the UK's most sought after up-and-coming Opera conductor."

Sonia originally trained and graduated from the CRR de Toulouse, FR in piano and piano-accompaniment before graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, London, UK in 2006.

She joined in 2010 the National Opera Studio, London and successively joined the English National Opera as Young Artist Repetiteur (2011-2012).

2017 marks her successful debut as an opera conductor. After a performance of Strauss' Die Fledermaus Ben-Santamaria is noticed by Opera Holland Park and Royal Opera House Covent Garden producers. That same year, she becomes the first female conductor chosen to be Link Artist of the Royal Opera House Jette Parkers Young Artists scheme (2017-2018) as well as making her UK debut with Opera Holland Park and the City of London Sinfonia Orchestra conducting Verdi's "Un Ballo in maschera".

Sonia has learnt from mentors including Paul Nadler (MET Opera), Sir T. Pappano (ROH) and B. Haitink CH KBE.

2018 Ben-Santamaria is one of the six women conductors selected worldwide for the Dallas Opera Hart Institute.

2019-2020 Sonia is invited to become the first female assistant associate conductor to Opera North, Leeds, UK. 

2022 marks Ben-Santamaria's appointement as professor of orchestral conducting at the Institut Superieur des Arts et du Design de Toulouse, in partnership with le Théâtre de Capitole de Toulouse, FR. 

2023-2024 Sonia makes a French debut conducting the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and later on in the season she will conduct NEGAR for the Opéra Orchestre de Montpellier a French creation co-produced with the Deutsch Opera Berlin.


Sonia Ben-Santamaria is represented by MusicHall Artists management, UK.