Music Director
Pola Benke
Pola Benke is the Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony, where she is leading a new chapter of artistic growth, innovation, and community engagement. Since her appointment in 2025, she has established a distinctive artistic vision for the orchestra through thematic season programming, expanded audience engagement initiatives, and a commitment to championing both classical masterworks and contemporary voices.
Under her leadership, the Symphony has embraced season-long artistic themes that connect concerts into cohesive musical journeys, creating deeper and more meaningful experiences for audiences. Benke also initiated the Santa Monica Symphony’s first-ever commissioned work, demonstrating her dedication to supporting living composers and contributing to the future of the orchestral repertoire. Committed to cultivating the next generation of artistic leaders, she created the Santa Monica Symphony Conducting Fellowship, a training program designed to provide emerging conductors with hands-on experience through rehearsals, performances, mentorship, and direct participation in the artistic and administrative work of the orchestra. In the 2026–27 season, she will further expand the Symphony’s artistic footprint with the launch of a new chamber music series, bringing musicians and audiences together through more intimate performances and community-centered programming.
Benke’s vision for the Santa Monica Symphony is rooted in the belief that orchestral music should be both artistically ambitious and broadly accessible. Her programming reflects a commitment to storytelling, innovation, and the inclusion of diverse voices, while honoring the great traditions of the orchestral canon.
In addition to her role with the Santa Monica Symphony, Benke serves as Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony and Music Director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. She previously held conducting positions with the Long Beach Symphony and Riverside Philharmonic and has participated in leading conducting programs and festivals throughout Europe and the United States, studying with distinguished conductors including Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Sian Edwards, Jonathon Heyward, Tomasz Golka, and Christopher Russell.
Born in Poland, Benke began her musical career as a cellist before pursuing conducting. She holds Master’s degrees in Cello Performance and Orchestral Conducting and is passionate about creating meaningful connections between orchestras and their communities. Through her leadership, she is shaping a Santa Monica Symphony that celebrates artistic excellence, embraces new ideas, and serves as a vibrant cultural resource for the city and beyond.
