About Emily

Dr. Emily Isaacson is a conductor, speaker, and consultant reimagining classical music for today’s audiences — and how we gather around it.

As founder and artistic director of Classical Uprising, she has built a community of over 6,000 musicians and music lovers through performances that break from tradition — bringing classical music into new spaces, formats, and conversations.

Her work sits at the intersection of artistry, innovation, and leadership, and extends across three core areas: Performance, Speaking, and Consulting.

At the core of her work is a belief that classical music must evolve—expanding where, how, and for whom it exists.

 

Awards

20 Outstanding Women, Portland Media Group 2024
State award for women leaders

Ernst Bacon Memorial Award 2022
First place in national award for the performance of American Music

Artist of the Year, Maine Arts Commission 2018

50 Mainers Shaping the State, Maine Magazine  2018

American Prize, Conducting 2022, 2018, 2015

Saint Andrews Society Scholar   2004 
One of two U.S. citizens selected for full graduate scholarship for study in Scotland