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Pola Benke didn’t plan to be a conductor. Born into a Polish family of artists and musicians, she became a professional cellist and enjoyed a successful career before picking up the baton at 30 and changing direction.
“I was very happy being a chamber and orchestral cellist,” said Benke, who began her tenure as Pacific Symphony’s new assistant conductor on Aug. 1. “My heart was always in the orchestra. I did competitions and my teachers encouraged me (to conduct), but I was very stubborn about that. I was doing what I wanted to do. But my interest in conducting finally happened because I was playing cello in professional orchestras and I was able to watch excellent conductors.”
Since arriving in California a couple of years ago, Benke has found continual work in her new profession. She will take on her role with Pacific Symphony in tandem with her position as music director of the Santa Monica Symphony. She also recently held assistant conductor roles with the Long Beach Symphony and Riverside Philharmonic.
As assistant conductor, she will lead Pacific Symphony’s Farmers & Merchants Bank Family Musical Mornings and the Youth Concerts, in addition to being the music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra.
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