Dr. Emily Isaacson is a conductor, composer, producer, and educator who is fiercely committed to reimagining classical music for today’s audience. She is founder and artistic director of Classical Uprising, a performing arts collective serving over 6,000 musicians and music lovers that believes classical music must rise up, challenge current norms, and re-envision where, how, and for whom we are making music. For this work, Isaacson was named the 2018 Maine Artist of the Year , one of the 50 Mainers Leading the State, one of Portland Radio’s 2024 Outstanding Women and a three-time winner of the American Prize.