Inma Shara: Spain's Foremost Woman Conductor

In the world of classical music, women have long struggled to be accepted in positions of authority and for many, conducting orchestras has been seen as ‘glass-ceiling’ seldom obtainable to female candidates. Yet Inma Shara, Spain‘s foremost female conductor has succeeded in building a formidable career doing just that, having collaborated with some of the most important orchestras in the world. We explore the life and work of one of the most remarkable female conductors of our time.
Born in the town of Amurrio, on the northern shores of Spain, Inma Shara studied at the Conservatory of Bilbao as well as the Conservatory of Vitoria in her home region, the Basque Country. From very early on she struggled to make a name for herself in a world so dominated by men: only one out of every 10 apprentice conductors is a woman. And of those that do manage to complete the arduous training, the competition in the job market can be just as fierce. In Spain especially, where the orchestras themselves tend to be composed of older men, the arrival of a young woman in a position of authority has often been received with skepticism.

Inma Shara with the Orchestra of San José

Inma Shara was relentless in her drive to make it to the top and by the age of 30 had already collaborated with some of the biggest names in classical music. Perhaps it’s telling that she adopted the stage name ‘Inma Shara’ as a diminutive of her birth name Inmaculada Saratxaga as a way of making her name easier to pronounce – there was no room for anything getting in the way. Nowadays, no one in the world of classical music hasn’t heard of her, her most recent collaborations include the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (a long-time dream of hers), and the Russian National Orchestra, as well as world-famous soloists such as Mischa Maisky, Boris Berezovsky and Shlomo Mintz.

Aware of her own struggles to reach the position she’s in today, Shara is renowned for her charity and social work, taking part in a number of programs for the young and underprivileged. Since 2007, she has been a leading brand ambassador for the famous Swiss watch company Vacheron Constantin, with which she has collaborated on a program to help promote young talented artists, including a concert organized in Madrid which was attended by the Spanish Queen Sofia.

Inma Shara conducting a classroom of children in Bolivia

Those in the world of music recognize Inma as representative of a new generation of conductors, and already she has been awarded for her contributions to music, including the Women’s Prize in the European Excellence Awards for her international contributions to music and was nominated ‘Honorary Ambassador of the Spain Brand’. Still only in her forties, Inma Shara is set to become one of the most influential female composers of our time, giving a powerful example for young women in and out of the music world.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.