Sylvia Alimena

Sylvia Alimena is an accomplished horn player and conductor with a distinguished career centered around the Washington, D.C. area. She began her professional journey as second horn in the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich in 1985, a position she held for 29 years until retiring in 2014. An educator as well, she has coached brass and wind players through the NSO Summer Music Institute and Youth Fellowship Program, and her students have gone on to prominent roles in major orchestras across the country.

In 1992, Sylvia co-founded the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra (ECO) with colleagues from the NSO, serving as its founding music director and conductor for two decades. Under her leadership, ECO became known for premiering new works and recording diverse repertoire, including pieces by composers like Mark Adamo and Florian Gassmann on the Naxos label. Beyond ECO, she has also directed other regional orchestras such as the Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra (now Avanti Orchestra) and the McLean Orchestra. Sylvia’s influence spans performance, conducting, and education, and she remains active as conductor of Brass of Peace.

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