FRANCES HO is currently completing a Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of Dr. Kevin Geraldi. This year, she worked with Nashville Opera in their Mary Raglan Emerging Artists Program as well as their mainstage production of Magic Flute. Previously, she held the Assistant Conductor position at La Porte County Symphony Orchestra in 2022-2023. Frances was formerly the music director for the Belmont University Opera in Nashville, Tennessee where she coached and conducted their mainstage productions. She also established the Belmont University Student Orchestra in 2019. In 2016, she directed the Washington state premiere of Bill Rauch’s Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella with the nationally renowned Roosevelt HS Theatre = and was nominated for best pit direction through the Fifth Avenue Theatre Awards. Recently, Frances was invited to conduct the Corporación Universitaria Reformada Symphony Orchestra in Barranquilla, Colombia where she debuted Symphony No. 2 by composer James Schutmaat. Frances was also selected to conduct at the 2022 College Orchestra Directors Association Masterclass with Teddy Abrams. Frances has had former instruction under Dr. Roberg Gregg as well as received instruction from Mark Shapiro through EAMA and Julliard, Robin Fountain at Vanderbilt University, and Don Schleicher through additional courses and workshops.