Australian conductor Simone Young, a leading figure in contemporary musical direction, has made her mark on the international stage with her high standards and artistic vision. Since 2022, she has been principal conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, while also collaborating regularly with prestigious ensembles, including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, which she has conducted on several occasions, notably in May 2023 in Geneva and Lausanne.

In the summers of 2024 and 2025, she made her debut at the Bayreuth Festival conducting Der Ring des Nibelungen, confirming her reputation as a leading Wagnerian interpreter. The 2024-2025 season saw her conduct notable productions such as Kurtág's Endgame at the Vienna State Opera, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre at La Scala in Milan, as well as Salome at Zurich Opera House and Elektra at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. She has also conducted concerts with renowned orchestras, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de France, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

From 2005 to 2015, she was principal conductor of the Hamburg State Opera and music director of the Elbphilharmonie, where she explored an eclectic repertoire ranging from Mozart to Henze, Wagner and Strauss. This period was marked by world and German premieres, as well as a strong commitment to contemporary music.

A renowned specialist in Wagner and Strauss, she has conducted several complete cycles of Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Vienna State Opera and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, as well as major works by Strauss such as Elektra, Salome and Die Frau ohne Schatten. Her relationship with the Vienna State Opera, which began in 1993, has been enriched by acclaimed productions such as Halévy's La Juive and Strauss's Daphne.

Simone Young has also been invited to conduct at major opera houses such as the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, while collaborating with leading symphony orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Orchestre de Paris and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The recipient of numerous awards, she is a Member of the Order of Australia, a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in France, and an Honorary Member of the Vienna State Opera. Her career is also documented by numerous CD and DVD recordings.